The local Sachetan Nagarika Mancha on Friday lodged a complaint at the Puri Singhadwar police station against the organisers of the untimely Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Mumbai.
Notably, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) had held a Rath of the Lord in Mumbai on Thursday. The untimely Rath Yatra has triggered strong resentment in Odisha. Besides, sevayats and leaders of various political parties have hit out at the Iskcon Rath Yatra.
“We cannot call the untimely chariot procession as the Rath Yatra. The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) should stop them from calling the untimely chariot festival as Jagannath Rath Yatra,” said Ram Charan Das Maharaj, a former member of the Shreemandir management committee.
SJTA Ritual Administrator Jitendra Sahu said, “The temple administration has no information about the Iskcon Rath Yatra so far. During a recent meeting chaired by Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingh Deb in Bhubaneswar, the Iskcon representatives had committed not to hold untimely Rath Yatras.”
He said the SJTA would hold talks again with the Iskcon authorities soon.
Congress MLA Suresh Routray demanded that the State Government strongly condemn the untimely Rath Yatra of Lord Jaganath organised by the Iskcon.
Echoing similar views, State BJP spokesperson Golak Mohapatra also demanded action against the organisers.
“We will place a demand before the State Government to discuss with the organisers of Rath Yatra and ensure that festivals associated with Lord Jagannath are held as per the tradition,” said Mohapatra.
BJD leader Amar Satpathy said, “It is an intentional move by the Iskcon to tarnish the Jagannath culture.” The SJTA should lodge a criminal case as it is a clear violation of tradition, he said.
