Members of the Odia community, through Odisha Forum, Delhi, have submitted a memorandum today to the Hon’ble President of India seeking intervention to preserve the sanctity, scriptural authenticity, and traditional integrity of the sacred Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannatha.
The memorandum states that the Puri Ratha Yatra, one of the world’s oldest and most revered religious festivals, is conducted strictly according to sacred scriptures, temple traditions, and the Hindu calendar under the supervision of the Gajapati Maharaja, servitors, and the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration. It emphasizes that the festival is inseparably linked to a prescribed nine-day period beginning on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya Tithi, as mentioned in the Skanda Purana, Brahma Purana, and Padma Purana.
Expressing concern over Ratha Yatras being organized by certain organizations, including ISKCON on dates outside the prescribed sacred period particularly in countries abroad for reasons of local convenience. The memorandum argues that such practices may create confusion among devotees, dilute the unique identity of the original Puri tradition, and hurt the religious sentiments of millions of Jagannatha devotees. It also refers to the opinion of scholars associated with the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration and the guidance of the Puri Shankaracharya, both of whom have maintained that the sacred Ratha Yatra should be celebrated only within the scripturally prescribed period.
The memorandum concludes with four key appeals to the President. First, it requests that the concerned ISKCON authorities be advised to celebrate Lord Jagannatha’s Ratha Yatra in all their centres worldwide only within the traditional nine-day period beginning on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya. Second, it urges all organizations conducting Ratha Yatra celebrations in India and abroad to align their observances with the traditional Puri Ratha Yatra calendar. Third, it seeks official recognition, protection, and promotion of the original Puri Ratha Yatra as a unique spiritual and cultural heritage of India. Finally, it requests the Government of India to support efforts for the inscription of the Shree Jagannatha Ratha Yatra of Puri on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The signatories clarified that the appeal is not directed against any religious organization or devotee community but is intended solely to preserve the sanctity, authenticity, and timeless traditions of Lord Jagannatha’s sacred Ratha Yatra for future generations.
Odisha forum also urged the Hon’ble President, Droupadi Murmu to support to build a cultural centre for Odisha at the national capital like many other states already have and President promised to try her best in this regard.
The Odisha Forum delegation included Shri Gokul Patnaik, President; Shri Rabi Pani and Ms. Ipsita Behura, Vice-President; Dr. Nivedita Giri, Secretary; Adv. Sanjib Kumar Mohanty and Shri Bimal Panda governing Board members along with few members of the Forum.
