Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration officials protested to an organization in Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, that planned to perform Lord Jagannath’s annual Rath Yatra and “Netrostav” rite before the dates specified in the scriptures. In a letter to the district magistrate of Hapur, SJTA Chief Administrator Dr. Arabinda Padhee stated that the Bhagwan Sri Jagannath Rath Yatra Seva Samiti was getting ready to host the Rath Yatra on June 14 and the “Netrostav” on June 13.
The temple administration stated that conducting the rituals before the dates fixed according to religious scriptures and tradition had hurt the sentiments of millions of Jagannath devotees across the world. Padhee pointed out that this year’s ‘Netrostav’ and Rath Yatra at the Jagannath Temple would be observed on July 14 and July 16, respectively, in accordance with scriptural prescriptions.
He urged the Hapur district administration to take appropriate steps to prevent the untimely observance of the rituals, stating that such practices violate long-standing traditions and scriptural norms. The SJTA, however, clarified that there would be no objection if the festivals were organised according to the “tithi” prescribed in the Hindu almanac.
Padhee said the temple managing committee, headed by Dibyasingha Deb, the titular king of Puri, had consistently opposed the practice of conducting Rath Yatra celebrations on dates not sanctioned by scriptures. He said the managing committee had passed a resolution emphasising that the Rath Yatra should be observed only on the auspicious dates prescribed in the scriptures.
