Rourkela: Puri king Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, chairman of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), issued a strongly worded letter to Swami Paramananda Maharaj, president of Radha Govinda Temple, Madhuban Ashram, Rishikesh, asking him not to conduct a Jagannath Rath Yatra in Dehradun on Jan 15.
The Gajapati objected to the ashram’s repeated conduct of ratha yatras on arbitrary dates, calling it a ‘direct violation’ of scriptural injunctions and the date followed by Puri Jagannath Temple.
In his letter dated Jan 10, the Puri king wrote, “On Oct 18, 2025, I objected to the Rath Yatra held by your ashram in Rishikesh on Oct 7. I am now informed that your ashram has since held Rath Yatra in Haridwar and proposed another at Dehradun on Jan 15. Performing Rath Yatra on any day other than the sacred nine-day period is a blatant transgression of the divine command of the Supreme Lord.”
He reminded the ashram that the temple administration’s scholars had issued a final opinion on Sept 2, 2025, categorically stating that the
tithi (auspicious day) could not be altered under any circumstances. The king had earlier also urged Iskcon to abide by the scriptures and perform the festival only within the auspicious nine-day window.
Malay Ray is a journalist who writes on social issues, human inte...
Read MoreMalay Ray is a journalist who writes on social issues, human interest stories, startups, inventions, the environment, women empowerment, and tribal life. He has been writing for The Times of India from Rourkela and covering other areas in the Sundargarh district of Odisha for the past three years.
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