rath yatra

Odia diaspora worldwide is protesting ISKCON's untimely rath yatra celebrations abroad, citing scriptural and traditional deviations from Puri's annual festival. While ISKCON agreed to hold the yatra in India during July, they are proceeding with overseas events on different dates. Concerns are mounting, with diaspora groups planning further actions and seeking official intervention.

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration successfully prevented an early rath yatra celebration in Punjab by coordinating with local authorities. A temple in Ferozepur, initially planning the festival for May 23, has now agreed to align with Puri's official July 16 date. This move ensures uniformity, though a similar request to Uttar Pradesh remains unanswered.

An unscheduled rath yatra planned for June 14 in Hapur district has been cancelled. This follows a request from the Puri Shree Jagannath Temple Administration to the Hapur district collector. The organization has now agreed to celebrate rath yatra on July 16, aligning with the Puri temple's schedule.

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has urged the Uttar Pradesh government to intervene and stop an organization in Hapur from holding rath yatra on non-traditional dates. The SJTA stated that untimely celebrations would hurt the religious sentiments of devotees, emphasizing adherence to the official schedule observed at the Puri temple.

In anticipation of the Puri rath yatra, a critical directive has been issued by Odisha's DGP to establish an effective crowd-control framework, putting the safety of devotees front and center, especially after last year’s unfortunate event. Senior law enforcement officers are fine-tuning strategies for emergency readiness, disaster management, and cross-departmental cooperation.

Odia cuisine was showcased at the Indian Food Festival in Ingolstadt, Germany, with 15 delicacies including the Annapurna Odia thali and dahibara aloodum. Organized by Shree Jagannatha Seva Germany and Odia European Society, the event highlighted Odisha's culinary heritage. Proceeds will support the upcoming rath yatra.

A family's pilgrimage to the Jagannath Temple in Puri turned into a chaotic lesson in life. Despite facing overwhelming crowds, deceptive guides, and the challenges of traveling with multiple generations, unexpected kindness from a security guard offered a moment of solace. The brief darshan of the deities ultimately made the arduous journey bearable.

Jagannath devotees express anger and disappointment as ISKCON's Bhaktivedanta Manor in the UK held Snana Yatra on May 10, allegedly disregarding objections from Puri's Shree Jagannath Temple and adhering to a non-traditional timing. This deviation from the sacred calendar has sparked calls for ISKCON leadership to clarify, apologize, and commit to observing future festivals according to Puri's established traditions.