ISKCON goes ahead with untimely Rath Yatra in Houston, US amid backlash

Amidst backlash, the International Society For Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) observed the Rath Yatra in Houston, US. The holy chariot, resembling the Nandighosha of Lord Jagannath in Puri, was pulled by devotees in huge numbers in the US city.

This comes a few days after ISKCON promised to host a Sankirtan Yatra instead of the untimely Rath Yatra. 

“Respecting the sentiments of Odia devotees of Lord Jagannath, the Houston Rath Yatra is cancelled,” the organisation stated in a press release. However, the chariot festival was organised in the name of ‘Festival of Bliss’, affecting the beliefs of Lord Jagannath devotees in Odisha.

ISKCON cancels plan to conduct Rath Yatra in Houston US

Enough is enough; we will take legal recourse, says Puri Gajapati on ISKCON’s untimely Rath Yatra

Commenting on the issue, senior servitor Binayak Das Mohapatra said, “Despite repeated objections and backlash, they went ahead with the festival by changing the name to ‘Festival of Bliss’ and keeping Lord Krishna’s photo, instead of Lord Jagannath. This has spread discontent among devotees and servitors who are now planning to boycott and ban their entry into their holy land of Puri.”

“Their behaviour will only lead to further violence among religions and beliefs. They have put the lives of ISKCON believers in India at risk. I do not want people of two beliefs to indulge in any kind of violence. Their act is highly condemnable. We will be forced to take the legal route in this connection,” he added.

Likewise, a devotee expressed his dissatisfaction and said, “They have deceived Lord Jagannath and his devotees. Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, Rath Yatra was held on the holy date. But, now they have played with the emotions and beliefs of Lord Jagannath devotees.”

Earlier, Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb had voiced strong opposition and urged ISKCON to reconsider its plan to organize Rath Yatra.

“ISKCON has organised the untimely Rath Yatra in Houston as per their earlier schedule. Earlier, they had hatched a conspiracy by promising the Puri Gajapati king, Odisha government and the temple administration to cancel the festival. Their one-month-long publicity about the untimely Rath Yatra had hurt the sentiments of crores of Jagannath devotees and voices were raised against the move. In response, Puri Gajapati had urged them to cancel the untimely Rath Yatra. Though they had given a written promise to withdraw from organising the untimely festival, they organised it today by naming it ‘Nandighosa Rath Yatra’. It is a global and religious conspiracy. We strongly condemn the move,” said Govardhan Mutt spokesperson Matrudatta Mishra.

In response to ISKCON’s untimely Rath Yatra, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said, “The temple administration will take decision over the earlier warning issued by Gajapati Maharaj and Odisha government will fully support the decision.”

However, in response, ISKCON said that Lord Hagannath’s idol was not there atop the chariot.

“Lord Jagannath’s idol was not there atop the chariot, rather there were the idols of Gaur Nitai, Sri  Krishna and Balram. We have earlier said that Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra will not be conducted, rather it will be ‘Sankeertana Yatra’ of Gaur Nitai,” said Tukaram Das, vice-president of ISKCON, Bhubaneswar.