Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb voiced strong concern over ISKCON’s practice of holding daily Rath Yatras abroad.
Speaking at the Shree Jagannath Chintan O Chetana programme, he cautioned that such rituals are a serious deviation from the sacred traditions of Lord Jagannath.
“They do not realise how grave this deviation is,” he said. “If we are true devotees of Mahaprabhu, we must follow his commands. The scriptures clearly direct that the Nabadinatmaka Rath Yatra should be held on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya. This is Mahaprabhu’s command, not anyone else’s.”
The Gajapati emphasised that Maharshi Veda Vyasa had laid down the rules, and they must be obeyed without alteration. “Without Mahaprabhu’s order, we cannot take the chariot out. The tradition allows Lord Jagannath to come out only twice a year. We cannot bring him out many times a year,” he stressed.
He reminded devotees that Lord Jagannath’s outings are strictly prescribed and cannot be altered for convenience. His remarks underline the importance of preserving Jagannath’s rituals in their original form and respecting the spiritual discipline laid down in the scriptures.
