Bhubaneswar: A meeting was held between the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and ISKCON (The International Society for Krishna Consciousness) Mayapuri representatives at the State Guest House in Bhubaneswar.
The meeting, presided over by Gajapati Maharaj Dibya Singh Dev, aimed to address ISKCON’s untimely Rath Yatra celebrations in India and abroad.
SJTA chief administrator Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee requested ISCKON to respect the religious sentiments of Jagannath devotees worldwide and adhere to the scheduled ‘tithis’ fixed by scripture. ISCKON’s Mayapuri office has the authority to make decisions regarding festivals in India, but international events are decided by their US-based governing commission, Padhee added.
“We have requested them to take the matter to their appropriate forum. The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) requested ISKCON to hold Rath Yatra this year on the second day of the bright fortnight of the ‘Ashadha’ month, which falls on June 27 this year, and the Snan Yatra on the scheduled time on Jyestha Purnima,” Padhee said.
The SJTA has scheduled this year’s Rath Yatra for June 27 and Snan Yatra on Jyostha Purnima. Culture experts advised ISCKON to refrain from removing the idols of the holy trinity from the sanctum sanctorum except during Snan Yatra and Rath Yatra.
