The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has been strongly criticized by the Odisha Forum for holding Rath Yatra festivities on dates that deviate from the customs of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri. Members of the forum stated during a news conference in New Delhi that changing the festival’s date would violate the long-standing religious and cultural customs connected to Lord Jagannath. They underlined that the Rath Yatra at Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri is carried out in accordance with a set schedule based on established customs and biblical directives.
Gokul Pattnaik, the forum president, called on Odias everywhere to preserve Jagannath customs. Additionally, he declared that the group intends to send President Droupadi Murmu a message asking the Central Government to seek Rath Yatra’s UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage classification. He claims that while maintaining the festival’s customs and schedule, such recognition would contribute to raising awareness on a worldwide scale.
Separately, the Odia Asmita Parisad, Convenor, Rabi Behera, also strongly objected to ISKCON’s Rath Yatra celebrations held outside Odisha. He referred to a recent ISKCON-organised Rath Yatra in New York, alleging that Odia NRIs who opposed the timing were treated improperly. He described the incident as an insult to Odia sentiments and traditions.