Bhubaneswar: In the face of backlash from Odisha, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) went ahead with the Rath Yatra festival in Houston, U.S., on Sunday.
Despite earlier assurances to conduct a Sankirtan Yatra instead, ISKCON held the chariot festival, drawing large crowds of devotees. The procession included a chariot closely resembling the Nandighosha, the holy chariot of Lord Jagannath, as seen in the traditional Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha.
ISKCON’s decision has stirred widespread discontent among Lord Jagannath devotees in Odisha, who argue that observing the Rath Yatra outside its customary date is a misrepresentation of the sacred tradition. A few days prior to the event, ISKCON had announced that it would cancel the untimely Rath Yatra, replacing it with a Sankirtan Yatra to honour the sentiments of Odia devotees.
In a statement, ISKCON said, “Respecting the sentiments of Odia devotees of Lord Jagannath, the Houston Rath Yatra is cancelled.” However, the chariot procession still proceeded under the name “Festival of Bliss,” which many feel disregarded Odia customs and beliefs.
In a stern response, Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the traditional head of the Jagannath Temple, expressed his disapproval. “Enough is enough; we will take legal recourse if this disrespect to Lord Jagannath’s traditions continues,” he said, voicing the growing frustration among devotees.
Senior servitor Binayak Das Mohapatra echoed this sentiment, expressing disappointment with ISKCON’s approach.
“Despite repeated objections, they organized the festival under a different name, ‘Festival of Bliss,’ using Lord Krishna’s image instead of Lord Jagannath. This has deeply hurt the sentiments of devotees and servitors. Many are now considering a boycott of ISKCON and banning its representatives from entering Puri,” said Mohapatra.
He also warned that such actions could create unnecessary religious tensions. “This behavior risks fueling inter-religious conflict. ISKCON’s actions are putting their followers in India in a difficult position. We urge ISKCON to act responsibly to avoid escalating tensions,” he added, emphasizing that legal action may be taken if the organization continues to disregard traditional beliefs.
A local devotee, echoing the widespread frustration, stated, “This feels like a betrayal of Lord Jagannath and his devotees. Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, Rath Yatra was held on the designated date with strict protocols. Changing the festival’s name and date is disrespectful to the traditions that are sacred to us.”
The untimely Rath Yatra in Houston follows previous concerns raised by Puri Gajapati Maharaja, who had formally requested ISKCON to reconsider holding the festival outside its scheduled period. His plea, however, seems to have gone unheeded, further deepening the rift.
Attempts to reach ISKCON for a comment on the matter remained unanswered. The controversy has left many Odia devotees and religious leaders awaiting further clarification and potentially, legal action to address what they see as an affront to their cultural and spiritual heritage.
