Odisha: Disagreement has been expressed among Jagannath devotees in Baltimore, USA, over the Rath Yatra being held outside the traditional auspicious occasion of Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya. Many members of the Odia community have objected to ISKCON’s decision to hold the Rath Yatra on May 30th instead of the prescribed religious date.
Odia devotees living abroad and Lord Jagannath argue that the Rath Yatra is not merely a festival, but an event steeped in deep religious and cultural tradition, which must be observed according to the prescribed dates. They believe that the traditions of the Srimandir in Puri and the rules prescribed in the scriptures are crucial to maintaining the sanctity of the festival.
Aliva Patnaik, an Odia native living in Baltimore, stated that the Rath Yatra can be celebrated outside Puri, but adherence to the dates and traditions prescribed in the sacred texts is mandatory. She added that changes to religious events should respect the sentiments of devotees and established traditions.
Similarly, another devotee, Mahesh Mohanty, stated that holding the Rath Yatra on any arbitrary date is against Hindu traditions. He categorically stated that the Rath Yatra is always celebrated on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya (the second day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashadha), and that organizing it differently would hurt the religious sentiments of devotees.
Previously, a group of non-resident Odias living in Virginia, USA, had written to the president of ISKCON in Baltimore, requesting a reconsideration of the Rath Yatra scheduled for May 30th. They stated in their letter that the event should be held in accordance with the traditional religious calendar to preserve its spiritual and cultural sanctity.
The issue has now become a topic of discussion and debate within the community. While ISKCON is touting the event as part of a global devotional and spiritual promotion, traditional devotees are expressing their disagreement, calling it a deviation from established religious dates.
Devotees say that the Rath Yatra is not merely a cultural event, but a deeply important festival steeped in faith and tradition, where adherence to both the date and rituals is considered essential. This controversy has now become a topic of discussion on both social and religious levels.
