Bhubaneswar: International society for Krishna consciousness (Iskcon) has turned down Puri king Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb’s renewed appeal to align its celebrations of Rath Yatra with the traditional festival calendar of Puri, the principal abode of Lord Jagannath, days after he wrote to Iskcon as well as President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking their intervention.On July 4, Deb, who is the chairman of the Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, wrote to Iskcon’s Governing Body Commission (GBC), urging it to reconsider its Oct 19, 2025, decision and bring the Rath Yatra schedules of its temples abroad in line with the traditional calendar. At that time, Iskcon had cited “practical challenges” in securing permissions abroad, noting Jagannath devotees often form a “small minority” in foreign countries, making approvals for processions difficult. “I recently requested Iskcon to revisit their stand. But GBC chairman Madhusevita Dasa, in a reply to me on July 7, firmly rejected my appeal,” Deb said.According to Deb, the Iskcon’s response read: “There is no more to add, and therefore we respectfully bow out of this discussion once and for all.”Deb said countless devotees have now pinned their hopes on the state govt and Centre to intervene and persuade Iskcon not to conduct Snana Yatra and Rath Yatra on “non‑traditional and random dates”.“According to the scriptures, Snana Yatra must be performed only on Jyestha Purnima Tithi, while Rath Yatra — a nine‑day festival — should be observed strictly within the span beginning Ashadha Shukla Paksha Dwitiya Tithi. The manner of celebration may change, but the sanctity of the ‘tithi’ (date) and the festival calendar is inviolable and cannot be altered under any circumstance.”The king wrote to President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi on July 4, pressing for intervention. He had earlier written to Murmu on April 20, and Modi on Oct 24, 2025. He also urged the Centre to request the West Bengal govt to intervene as Iskcon’s headquarters is located at Mayapur.
