Odia diaspora, locals oppose ‘untimely' Rath Yatra in USA, Europe

Bhubaneswar: Odia diaspora spread across USA, Europe and Canada are protesting what they described as “untimely rath and snana yatra” by Iskcon, saying that this practice is against the scriptures and traditions of the annual yatra undertaken in Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath, Subhadra and Balabhadra.

Arabinda Padhee, chief administrator, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), said Iskcon has given in writing that it will organise Rath Yatra in India during the nine-day period in July, but is going ahead with its plans to organize yatras on other dates abroad. “We have been relatively successful in stopping Rath Yatra by Iskcon in India. We had submitted a 90-odd page document based on the opinion of researchers on the timing of Rath Yatra to Iskcon. But they are continuing outside India. The SJTA managing committee headed by the Gajapati will take a final decision on it,” he said.

Rath Yatra will be organised in Puri on July 16 this year on Asadha Shukla Pakhya Dwitiya tithi.

Sources said Iskcon is mulling a Rath Yatra in London and New Orleans on May 24, according to its X post and flyers.

On May 2, members of the Odia diaspora, including the Odisha Society of UK (OSUK), Shree Jagannath Society and Prabashi Odia UK, moved Iskcon authorities in London not to go ahead with it. They submitted their representation to Shree Nila Madhav Das, managing director, IskconUK, Bhaktivedanta Manor, Watford.

“Iskcon is very adamant on going ahead with the Rath Yatra. We have decided to move the President of India, PM and chief minister of West Bengal to stop this practice that is against scriptures and traditions,” said Sukanta Sahu, general secretary of OSUK.

A few days back, Odias living in Florida submitted a memo and signatures of Odias to Bhadradas aka Subash Seth, president of Festival of Chariots Inc., a non-profit organization, against celebrations in Florida on May 16.

“We are making efforts but we do not know if it will have its effect,” said Kiron Senapati, president, Tampa Bay Ratha Yatra Association.

He was accompanied by Shyam S Mohapatra, president of Shree Jagannatha Sanskriti United, who started a project named “SURYa” (Stop Untimely Ratha Yatra). “Iskcon has been organising Rath Yatra untimely since the late 1970s. We are trying to organise protests by writing letters to state why it is a deviation from the tradition of Rath Yatra and why it is wrong and they should refrain from doing this. We have taken up a signature campaign and collected many signatures,” he said.

On May 16, Odias living in Johannesburg opposed the untimely Rath Yatra by Iskcon in South Africa. Contacted, general manager, Iskcon, Mayapur, Jagathguru Jayadev Das, admitted to Rath Yatra being organised abroad on different dates. “In India, we are organising Rath Yatra on the date in accordance with the Supreme Court order,” he said.

Odia diaspora’s concern has found an echo within Odisha, with cultural researcher Anita Sabat opposing and posting her opinions in X. “When Janmashtami, Shree Ram Navami, Ekadashi, Dwadashi, Trayodashi, Chaturdashi, etc. are celebrated in accordance with the tithi and on the designated dates as per the calendar, why the exception for our Mahaprabhu’s Ratha Jatra?,” asks Sabat.

Similarly, Bargarh-based dentist Chandra Sekhar Khuntia, who used to earlier live in UAE, said the Odia diaspora used to organise Rath Yatra on its day in Dubai. “Indian embassies should be asked to officially oppose untimely Rath Yatra abroad,” he said.