Puri, July 8 (UNI) Odisha's Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb has urged President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and stop ISKCON from conducting what he described as the "untimely and unethical" observance of the Snana Yatra, Rath Yatra and other rituals of Lord Jagannath in foreign countries.
Expressing his displeasure over ISKCON's practice of holding the Jagannath rituals outside the traditional religious calendar followed by the Sri Jagannath Temple in Puri, the Gajapati said he had written to both the President and the Prime Minister seeking the Centre's intervention.
The Gajapati, who is the Adya Sevak (foremost servitor) of Lord Jagannath and ex-officio Chairman of the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), reiterated that the untimely observance of the Snana Yatra, Rath Yatra and other associated rituals violates the age-old traditions and principles of Jagannath culture.
He said he had also written to ISKCON on July 4, enclosing the views of the Shankaracharya and leading Vaishnavacharyas, urging the organisation to strictly adhere to the ritual calendar of the Sri Jagannath Temple while conducting festivals and rituals associated with Lord Jagannath.
According to the Gajapati, despite repeated objections raised by the SJTA and himself, ISKCON paid little heed to the concerns. In its reply dated October 19, 2025, the organisation assured that such practices would not be followed in India, but did not address similar observances abroad.
Referring to recent changes in ISKCON's administration, the Gajapati expressed hope that its Governing Body Commission (GBC), which now manages the organisation from its Kolkata headquarters, would reconsider the matter and take appropriate steps in keeping with Jagannath traditions.
He also appreciated members of the Odia diaspora living overseas for raising their voices against the untimely observance of the Rath Yatra and other Jagannath rituals by ISKCON in their respective countries.
UNI DP