Puri temple committee requests ISKCON to respect traditions
The committee that manages Puri's famous Jagannath Temple has asked ISKCON (the global Krishna movement) to celebrate key rituals—like Snana Yatra and Rath Yatra—on the same dates as set by ancient tradition. This comes after some ISKCON temples abroad held these festivals on different dates, which raised concerns about keeping religious customs consistent.
Letter to ISKCON
In a letter, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb requested, "I request your good self to ensure that no ISKCON temple or center anywhere in the world performs the 'Snana Yatra' or 'Ratha Yatra' of Lord Shree Jagannath on a date/tithi not sanctioned by scriptures and traditions." He stressed that sticking to the original calendar is important for authenticity and respect.
Naming issue and criticism
This isn't the first time Deb has reached out—he'd earlier asked ISKCON to drop "Jagannath Dham" from a West Bengal temple's name, saying it didn't fit tradition. ISKCON clarified they weren't behind that naming. Still, off-calendar celebrations have led to criticism from religious leaders and devotees who want unity in how these festivals are observed.