The Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA) has issued a detailed and strongly worded rebuttal to a recent press statement by ISKCON, accusing the global organisation of making false claims about a scholarly dialogue and attempting to mislead devotees worldwide on the timing of Lord Jagannatha’s sacred festivals.
In a press release dated Tuesday, the official body managing the 12th-century Shree Jagannatha Temple in Puri dismissed ISKCON’s assertion that a meeting between scholars from both sides had “conclusively proved” that ISKCON’s Rath Yatra festivals held on various dates throughout the year outside India are “fully permitted and in complete accordance with the shastras.”
“The Press Release of ISKCON National Communications Office, New Delhi, circulated in the media on 12th July 2026 contains false statements and seeks to cast aspersions with the intention of misleading the public,” the SJTA stated bluntly.
Scholarly Meeting Outcome Clarified
The SJTA press release provides a detailed account of the scholarly dialogue that took place on 20th March 2025 at Bhubaneswar in the presence of Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, Chairman of the Shree Jagannatha Temple Managing Committee, and the Chief Administrator of SJTA.
According to SJTA, ISKCON scholars at the meeting attempted to justify celebrating Rath Yatra outside India on random dates throughout the year, citing scriptures and practical considerations. However, SJTA scholars firmly rejected these arguments as contrary to sacred scriptures and centuries-old tradition.
“SJTA Scholars clearly explained to ISKCON Scholars that Lord Jagannatha has Himself proclaimed the specific tithis for performance of His various sacred festivals,” the release noted. These proclamations, narrated by Maharshi Vedavyasa in the Skanda Purana and Brahma Purana, are considered divine commandments that cannot be altered.
The core prescriptions highlighted by SJTA are:
- Snana Yatra must be performed only on Jyestha Purnima Tithi — the holy day marking Lord Jagannatha’s divine manifestation or “birthday.”
- Ratha Yatra is a nine-day festival (navadinatmaka-yatra) that must commence on Ashadha Shukla Paksha Dvitiya Tithi, signifying the Lord’s sojourn to His sacred “birth-place” at Gundicha Mandap.
Bringing the presiding deities (Moola Vigrahas) out of the temple on any other date, SJTA emphasised, violates these divine proclamations and breaches the established tradition of Sanatana Vaidika Dharma. Even ceremonial deities (Utsava Vigrahas) are taken out only on specific festive occasions, not randomly throughout the year.
Tithi Cannot Be Changed — Only the Manner Can
SJTA scholars acknowledged practical challenges in organising Rath Yatras in foreign countries but drew a clear distinction between adapting the manner of celebration and altering the tithi itself.
“The challenges posed for performing Ratha-yatra in countries outside India… may justify appropriate adaptations and modifications in the MANNER of celebrating Ratha-yatra; but it cannot, under any circumstance whatsoever, justify altering the very TITHI of the Yatra,” the release stated.
They further noted that ISKCON’s argument about holding events only on weekends is already accommodated, since a nine-day festival naturally includes at least one weekend.
The SJTA compared the issue to other major festivals across religions — Krishna Janmashtami, Ram Navami, Mahashivaratri, Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja, Christmas, Eid, or Yom Kippur — all of which are observed on their prescribed dates. “Shree Jagannatha Ratha-yatra must be celebrated only on the prescribed tithi/date in conformity with scriptures and tradition,” it asserted.
“Essential Purpose” of Rath Yatra
The release stressed that the true purpose of Rath Yatra, as per the divine proclamations in the Skanda and Brahma Puranas, is to perform the yatra for the “Pleasure” of the Lord and in devotional obedience to His command to visit His birth-place on the specific tithi. Celebrating it on random dates throughout the year, SJTA said, directly contravenes these divine instructions.
While acknowledging the desire to give maximum devotees worldwide the opportunity for darshan, the temple body maintained that this cannot come at the cost of violating scriptures.
Timeline of the Dispute
The SJTA release traces the long history of the disagreement:
- Informal discussions began after Gajapati Maharaja witnessed an untimely Rath Yatra in Berlin in 1991-92 and advised ISKCON organisers against it.
- A formal resolution opposing untimely yatras was passed by the Temple Managing Committee in February 2008.
- In July 2021, ISKCON’s Governing Council in Mumbai decided to hold Rath Yatras in India only within the prescribed nine-day period.
- SJTA urged the Mumbai body to take up the matter with ISKCON’s global Governing Body Commission (GBC) in Mayapur.
- A meeting between Gajapati Maharaja and ISKCON GBC representatives took place in Puri on 4th December 2024.
- The scholarly dialogue occurred on 20th March 2025.
- SJTA scholars submitted their final detailed opinion on 2nd September 2025, comprehensively rejecting ISKCON’s arguments. This was approved by the Temple Managing Committee and sent to ISKCON GBC on 6th September 2025.
- ISKCON GBC Chairman rejected the appeal in a letter dated 19th October 2025.
- Gajapati Maharaja wrote again on 21st October 2025 and 4th July 2026 urging reconsideration.
- On 7th July 2026, ISKCON GBC Chairman replied curtly: “There is no more to add, and therefore we respectfully bow out of this discussion once and for all.”
The SJTA noted that while ISKCON had committed in October 2025 to observe Snana Yatra on the prescribed Jyestha Purnima tithi, several ISKCON temples outside India continue to hold untimely Snana Yatras.
Misleading Claim About Gajapati Maharaja
The SJTA strongly criticised ISKCON’s 12th July press release for claiming that “His Highness the Gajapati Maharaja himself graced ISKCON’s Berlin Rath Yatra in Germany with his presence,” suggesting approval of untimely celebrations.
Calling this a “deliberate and mischievous statement casting aspersions on the integrity and conduct of Shree Gajapati Maharaja,” the release clarified the facts: During an Inter-Faith Conference in Berlin in 1991-92, Gajapati Maharaja was invited to witness the event but immediately advised ISKCON organisers to stop holding untimely yatras as they violate scriptures and tradition.
Support from Shankaracharyas
The SJTA release also highlighted support from traditional religious authorities. Parama Pujyapada Shreemad Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Nishalananda Saraswati Maharaj of Shree Goverdhana Peetha — considered the highest religious authority in matters relating to Lord Jagannatha worship — has clearly stated that Rath Yatra must be celebrated only within the nine-day period commencing on Ashadha Shukla Dvitiya as prescribed in the scriptures. Several other revered Shankaracharyas and Vaishnavacharyas have expressed similar views.
Next Steps: Delegation to President and Prime Minister
As ISKCON continues to organise untimely Snana and Rath Yatras globally, the Shree Jagannatha Temple Managing Committee has decided that, after the conclusion of this year’s Rath Yatra festivities in Puri later this month, a high-level SJTA delegation will meet President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other senior dignitaries to seek their intervention to stop such practices worldwide.
Gajapati Maharaja has already written to both the President (letters dated 20th April and 4th July 2026) and the Prime Minister (letters dated 24th October 2025 and 4th July 2026) on the matter. The Odisha government has also been kept informed and has publicly urged ISKCON to adhere to traditional timings.
The Core Issue
At the heart of the dispute lies a fundamental theological and traditional question: Can the sacred tithi prescribed by Lord Jagannatha Himself through the scriptures be changed for convenience or wider participation? The SJTA’s position is unequivocal — the tithi is inviolable. Adaptations in the manner of celebration are permissible, but the date itself, rooted in divine proclamation, cannot be altered.
As devotees worldwide prepare for this year’s Rath Yatra, the sharp exchange between the apex traditional authority of Lord Jagannatha’s abode and one of the largest global organisations propagating His worship has brought the debate over preserving ancient ritual sanctity versus modern practical outreach into sharp focus.
ISKCON Bangalore supports SJTA stand on traditional Ratha Yatra dates
In a significant development in the ongoing debate over Ratha Yatra timings, ISKCON Bangalore has publicly aligned itself with the stand of the Sri Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA) and Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb Ji.
Yesterday, a letter was received from Madhu Pandit Dasa, Chairman of the Governing Body Commission of Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON Group of Temples (also Founder-Chairman of The Akshaya Patra Foundation), addressed to His Excellency the Gajapati Maharaja.
In the letter, Madhu Pandit Dasa states that, in the spirit of unity and cooperation among institutions working for Sanatana Dharma, ISKCON Bangalore’s centres will conduct the Ratha Yatra across their temples during the nine-day period as advised by the Moola-Peetha of Sri Jagannatha Temple at Puri. They will also perform Snana Yatra strictly on the prescribed tithi.
The letter further clarifies that Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON (Bangalore group) is a separate and independent institution from the other ISKCON group headquartered in Mayapur. It explicitly states that the two groups differ on this subject, with the Bangalore group choosing to follow the dates advised by the Sri Jagannatha Temple at Puri.
The letter praises the Gajapati Maharaja’s decades of dedicated service to Lord Jagannatha and extends an invitation to him, the royal family, and entourage to visit the ISKCON Bangalore temple at their convenience.
This move by ISKCON Bangalore is being seen as a clear expression of support for the traditional stand taken by the SJTA on maintaining the sanctity of the prescribed tithis for Jagannatha festivals.
