The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has strongly objected to the proposed “untimely” celebration of Rath Yatra by a Jagannath temple in Ferozepur and urged the Punjab administration to stop the event immediately.
SJTA Chief Administrator Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee has written to the Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate of Ferozepur, Deepshikha Sharma, requesting urgent intervention to prevent the festival from being conducted on May 23, 2026.
SJTA Says Proposed Rath Yatra Violates Sacred Traditions
According to temple administration sources, a local Jagannath temple located in Ferozepur Cantonment is planning to organize Rath Yatra nearly two months before the officially prescribed date.
The move has triggered concern among Jagannath devotees, with SJTA stating that the sacred festival must follow the traditional Tithi and scriptural calendar associated with Lord Jagannath.
As per the official ritual schedule of the Shree Jagannath Temple, the authentic Rath Yatra in 2026 will be observed on July 16.
In his letter, Dr. Padhee reportedly stated that celebrating the festival on any unauthorized date could hurt the religious sentiments of millions of devotees across India and abroad.
SJTA Calls For Immediate Administrative Action
The temple administration emphasized that the Managing Committee of Shree Jagannath Temple, functioning under the permanent chairmanship of the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri, has consistently opposed such premature observances of Rath Yatra in different parts of the country.
SJTA urged the district administration in Punjab to ensure that rituals connected to Lord Jagannath strictly follow the traditions and scriptural prescriptions of the Moola Pitha — the original seat of Lord Jagannath in Puri.
A copy of the official communication has also been sent to the Government of Punjab Chief Secretary for immediate coordination and action.
Devotees Await Punjab Government’s Response
The issue has drawn attention from Jagannath devotees in Odisha and outside the state, many of whom are closely watching how the Punjab administration responds to SJTA’s request.
The annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is one of India’s most revered religious festivals and attracts millions of devotees from across the world to Puri every year.
