Maharaja of Puri writes to PM Modi and the President; criticizes ISKCON for holding Rath Yatra on different dates

Maharaja of Puri writes to PM Modi and the President; criticizes ISKCON for holding Rath Yatra on different dates

As happens every year, the grand Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri is set to begin on July 16. In just a few days, Lord Jagannath will depart for His aunt’s home; however, a controversy has already erupted over ISKCON’s decision to conduct the Rath Yatra and Snan Yatra on different dates. Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb of Puri has written to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing his objection to ISKCON holding these processions on separate dates and urging them to intervene. He maintains that this practice would undermine ancient traditions.