Bhubaneswar: Debarring the requests and warnings of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) conducted its untimely Rath Yatra although, but sans the Lord’s idols on November 10 at Houston in USA.
Referring to it as the ‘Festival of Bliss’, the ISKCON pulled the strings of the chariots that are exact replicas of the chariots of the Lords. It also carried the ‘Snan Jatra’ (ritual where the Lord is bathed) followed by Rath Yatra.
Despite announcing to call off the untimely Rath Yatra at Houston in the USA, this move of the organisation has disappointed and infuriated Jagannath devotees. “ISKCON has to face the consequences for going against the rituals and ignoring the warning and requests of SJTA and Puri Gajapati Maharaj. The State Government will wholly support the decision taken by the SJTA,” informed Prithiviraj Harichandan, Minister of Law and Justice of Odisha.
The ISKCON row had begun to calm down as Tukaram Das, the Vice President of ISKCON Bhubaneswar had informed about the cancellation of the untimely Rath Yatra making the Shree Jagannath lovers heave a sigh of relief.
After devotees, priests and Gajapati Maharaja showed their displeasure over the ISKCON conducting untimely Rath Yatra at Houston, the Vice President Bhubaneswar had announced its cancellation. Earlier slated for November 9, the chariot pulling was conducted on November 10.