The Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA) has renewed its call for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) to adhere strictly to scriptural dates and traditions for the Snana Yatra and Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannath.
Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar today, the Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb criticised ISKCON for violating ancient Hindu scriptures and time-honoured practices by conducting these sacred rituals on unauthorised dates and in locations outside the primary seat (Moola Peetha) of Lord Jagannath in Puri.
“The sanctity of Lord Jagannath’s rituals must be preserved in accordance with our sacred scriptures. ISKCON’s decision to conduct Rath Yatra and Snana Yatra on unsanctioned dates is a distortion of tradition and deeply concerning.
We have submitted a comprehensive 100-page report to ISKCON’s headquarters in Mayapur, highlighting these irregularities. While they had resolved in 2021 to follow Puri’s calendar for Indian observances, violations continue—this year alone, 68 untimely Rath Yatras were held abroad and 40 premature Snana Yatras in India.
We have proposed that Snana Yatra be observed strictly on Jyestha Purnima and Rath Yatra on the second day of Ashadha Shukla Paksha. ISKCON must take corrective steps. We hope they will rectify their actions soon. All options remain open, including legal recourse, but we urge them not to compel us to take such measures.”
SJTA Chief Administrator Dr. Arabinda Padhee said, “The rituals of Lord Jagannath are not merely ceremonial—they are sacred and must be observed with precision. ISKCON’s conduct of 18 Snana Yatras before Puri’s own this year is unacceptable.
Whether in India or abroad, Rath Yatra and Snana Yatra must be held on the same day as observed in Puri. Any deviation undermines the spiritual and cultural integrity of these traditions. We stand firmly in defence of the prescribed calendar and urge all organisations to uphold it.”
The Snana Yatra, marking Lord Jagannath’s birth or first appearance, is traditionally observed on Jyeshtha Purnima at the Shri Mandir in Puri. Similarly, the nine-day Ratha Yatra, where the deities journey to the Gundicha Temple, has been held exclusively on Ashadha Shukla Paksha Dwitiya since ancient times. However, the SJTA notes that over recent decades, ISKCON has organised these festivals in various temples across India and abroad on non-scriptural dates, disregarding these mandates.
This ongoing issue has prompted repeated objections and discussions from the SJTA and Gajapati Maharaja. A key milestone was the July 21, 2021, resolution by ISKCON’s Governing Council (Bureau) in Mumbai, mandating adherence to traditional Ratha Yatra practices in all Indian temples. For international events, decisions were deferred to ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) in Mayapur, West Bengal. Despite multiple appeals from the Gajapati, including a personal request during a December 2, 2024, meeting in Puri, violations persist.
In response to ISKCON’s proposals, a scholarly meeting was convened on March 20, 2025, in Bhubaneswar, involving experts from both sides. After reviewing ISKCON’s submissions and the meeting outcomes, SJTA-represented scholars concluded that arguments for off-schedule celebrations are baseless, erroneous, and contrary to scriptures and traditions. These findings were approved during the SJTA Management Committee meeting on September 3, 2025, and a comprehensive dossier with references was forwarded to the ISKCON GBC in Mayapur, accompanied by a letter from the Gajapati.
The press release draws parallels to other festivals, noting that ISKCON itself observes Krishna Janmashtami, Ram Navami, and Ganesh Chaturthi on fixed scriptural dates without deviation. It extends this to broader Hindu observances like Maha Shivratri, Holi, Diwali, Durga Puja, Dussehra, Vasant Panchami, Makar Sankranti, and Guru Purnima, all celebrated globally on specific dates. Even festivals from other religions—such as Christmas, Eid-ul-Fitr, Buddha Jayanti, Paryushana (Jainism), Yom Kippur (Judaism), and Baisakhi (Sikhism)—adhere to designated days per their traditions. Thus, altering the dates for Lord Jagannath’s rituals, described as the holiest among the twelve yatras, is deemed unjustifiable.
Despite ongoing dialogues, the SJTA reports that in 2025 alone, approximately 40 ISKCON temples in India and abroad have conducted Snana Yatra on varying dates, extending even into September. Available data indicate that 68 international ISKCON centres have similarly performed Ratha Yatra in violation of traditions. Examples include Snana Yatra events in Berkeley (July 27), New York City (June 7), Los Angeles (July 20), and Houston (June 22), as well as Ratha Yatras in San Francisco (August 24), New York (June 13-15), Harrisburg (July 19), and Cambridge (July 5)—many deviating from the traditional June 27 timeline for 2025.
Prominent figures have echoed these concerns. Shrimad Jagadguru Shankaracharya Shri Nischalananda Saraswati has strongly condemned ISKCON’s actions, labelling untimely rituals as disruptive to spiritual essence and a bid for popularity. The SJTA warns that such disregard offends the religious sentiments of millions of Lord Jagannath devotees worldwide.
In a final appeal, the Gajapati urges ISKCON’s GBC in Mayapur to implement necessary measures within one month to ensure all yatras align with scriptures and traditions across their centres.
While ISKCON has previously defended its global events as a means to spread devotion, no immediate response to this latest release was available.
The controversy highlights tensions between preserving ancient customs and adapting them for a global audience, with potential calls for governmental or legal intervention if unresolved.
