Puri king for synchronising all Rath Yatras with Pilgrim Town fest

Bhubaneswar: Puri king and foremost servitor of Lord Jagannath, Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingha Deb, on Tuesday advocated uniformity in date for celebration of Rath Yatra across the country and abroad, on the lines of Puri Jagannath Temple schedule. Deb said untimely and unscheduled celebration of Rath Yatra at different places is a violation of age-old Sanskrit scriptures, long-standing tradition and statutory provisions.
According to scriptures and custom of Sanatan Vedic Dharma, Rath Yatra at Jagannath Dham is performed from second day of bright fortnight of Asadha month (usually June/July). “Performance of Rath Yatra on days other than the auspicious tithis (days) is against spiritual injunction and established tradition. I appeal to all Jagannath devotees and institutions to not deviate from the Puri temple’s tradition and schedule meant for Rath Yatra,” Deb said in a written statement.
The Puri King had in 2008 expressed his displeasure over Iskcon observing Rath Yatra on different dates at Ludhiana and Delhi in 2007.
Deb’s remarks came a few days after the Jagannath Temple managing committee passed a resolution to request Jagannath temples across the country to celebrate Rath Yatra according to schedule of Puri temple. The temple administration said Puri is considered as the real abode of Jagannath and the rituals of the shrine should be followed in other Jagannath temples.
On Monday, two social organisations — Jagannath Sena and Sachetan Nagarika Mancha — lodged complaints in Singhadwar police station in Puri against Iskcon for planning to celebrate Rath Yatra in November. “We are not authorised to comment on Iskcon’s Ludhiana temple and their festival calendar. We celebrate Rath Yatra in Bhubaneswar on the same date the festival is observed at Puri Jagannath Temple,” said Balaram Das, a senior functionary of the Iskcon temple in Bhubaneswar.
Servitors said a number of Jagannath temples in different states have been following the rituals of Puri temple. “Managements of many temples visited Puri in past and learnt from us the daily rituals of Jagannath Temple. Though they expressed difficulty to follow all the rituals of Puri temple, they have been conducting some key rituals and festivals according to Puri shrine’s schedule,” said servitor Binayak Dasmohapatra.