The Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA) has called on all Jagannath temples across India and abroad to observe the deity’s annual festivals strictly according to the tithis prescribed in sacred scriptures and ancient Shreemandira tradition.
The statement, released on Baisakha Krishna-paksha Navami (Saturday, 11 April 2026), coincides with the approaching Mahavisuva Sankranti on 14 April 2026, which marks the beginning of the 2026-2027 festival year in Puri.
The SJTA has attached an official Shreemandira Festivals Calendar (Annexure A) listing all festivals to be performed at the Jagannath Temple in Puri. While acknowledging that smaller temples may not be able to observe every festival, the administration has urged them to perform the major annual festivals—clearly marked with an asterisk in the calendar—on the exact tithis prescribed for the place where the temple is located.
The release expresses “grave concern” over the continued practice of certain ISKCON temples outside India of conducting the sacred Ratha-yatra of Shree Jagannatha Mahaprabhu on “random dates throughout the year.” It notes that, following an ISKCON decision dated 19 October 2025, several cities abroad have already held or scheduled Ratha-yatras on tithis that violate scriptural guidelines.
The statement is equally critical of some ISKCON temples that continue to celebrate Snana-yatra on dates other than the prescribed Jyeshtha Poornima tithi, despite their own earlier decision.
“These blatant violations of Shree Jagannatha tradition are hurting the religious sentiments of countless devotees around the world,” the release states.
The SJTA cites the strong disapproval expressed by Shree Goverdhan Matha Peethadhishwara Param Pujyapad Shreemad Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Nishchalananda Saraswati Maharaj, described as the final authority on religious matters concerning Jagannatha Mahaprabhu.
The administration has made a direct appeal to ISKCON Headquarters in Mayapur “to change their erroneous decision of 19th October 2025” and ensure that all Ratha-yatras and Snana-yatras conducted by ISKCON temples worldwide follow the tithis laid down in sacred scriptures and ancient tradition.
The press release is jointly signed by Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, IAS, Chief Administrator, Shree Jagannatha Temple, and Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, Chairman of the Shree Jagannatha Temple Managing Committee.
It concludes with prayers at the Lotus Feet of Shree Shree Jagannatha Mahaprabhu on the auspicious occasion of Mahavisuva Sankranti, Shree Hanuman Jayanti, and Odia Nava-varsha.
The full press release, together with the festival calendar and supporting annexures, has been issued from the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration Office in Puri.
