Iskcon Cancels Controversial Rath Yatra in Houston Amid Legal Threats | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Facing backlash from different quarters, International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) on Tuesday cancelled the Rath Yatra in Houston on Nov 9. The announcement comes on a day Puri Gajapati Divyasingha Deb voiced strong opposition to the untimely Rath Yatra, cautioning about possible legal ramifications if the organisation decided to proceed with its intended plan.
Instead of Rath Yatra, Iskcon will now host a Sankirtan Yatra at the same venue, the organisation informed in a press release.
“Respecting the sentiments of Odia devotees of Lord Jagannath, the Houston Rath Yatra is cancelled. They will do Gour Nitai Sankirtan Yatra. National communications director, Yudhistir Govinda Prabhu conveyed this following his discussion with His Grace, Anuttama Prabhu, the member of Iskcon’s governing body commission and minister for communications,” it stated.
The statement comes hours after the Puri king once again urged Iskcon to reconsider its plan to organise Rath Yatra on Nov 9 and Warri in Nigeria on Nov 23.
During a press conference, Puri king said Iskcon’s governing body commission (GBC) meeting, scheduled in March next year in Mayapur, West Bengal, is likely to formulate a resolution to observe Rath Yatra globally on the same date.
The Gajapati said they are again requesting Iskcon to refrain from observing an untimely Rath Yatra, and they have received assurance regarding resolution of the matter in the next GBC meeting. “If they do not pass such a resolution, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration will pursue legal proceedings,” he warned.
He said that according to the information received, Iskcon’s Houston unit has already cancelled Snana Yatra, previously scheduled for Nov 3, and a similar decision is likely on the proposed Rath Yatra on Nov 9.
“Snana Yatra, Rath Yatra and other rituals associated with Lord Jagannath are celebrated uniformly on dates prescribed by the scriptures. It is inappropriate for anyone to observe the festivals of Lord Jagannath on alternative dates,” the Gajapati said.
He said Iskcon’s India units are offering complete support and have guaranteed their global units will follow suit. “They may choose any name, but if they designate it as Rath Yatra and proceed with taking the deities out of the sanctum sanctorum, it must align with scriptural guidelines,” he said.
Instead of Rath Yatra, Iskcon will now host a Sankirtan Yatra at the same venue, the organisation informed in a press release.
“Respecting the sentiments of Odia devotees of Lord Jagannath, the Houston Rath Yatra is cancelled. They will do Gour Nitai Sankirtan Yatra. National communications director, Yudhistir Govinda Prabhu conveyed this following his discussion with His Grace, Anuttama Prabhu, the member of Iskcon’s governing body commission and minister for communications,” it stated.
The statement comes hours after the Puri king once again urged Iskcon to reconsider its plan to organise Rath Yatra on Nov 9 and Warri in Nigeria on Nov 23.
During a press conference, Puri king said Iskcon’s governing body commission (GBC) meeting, scheduled in March next year in Mayapur, West Bengal, is likely to formulate a resolution to observe Rath Yatra globally on the same date.
The Gajapati said they are again requesting Iskcon to refrain from observing an untimely Rath Yatra, and they have received assurance regarding resolution of the matter in the next GBC meeting. “If they do not pass such a resolution, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration will pursue legal proceedings,” he warned.
He said that according to the information received, Iskcon’s Houston unit has already cancelled Snana Yatra, previously scheduled for Nov 3, and a similar decision is likely on the proposed Rath Yatra on Nov 9.
“Snana Yatra, Rath Yatra and other rituals associated with Lord Jagannath are celebrated uniformly on dates prescribed by the scriptures. It is inappropriate for anyone to observe the festivals of Lord Jagannath on alternative dates,” the Gajapati said.
He said Iskcon’s India units are offering complete support and have guaranteed their global units will follow suit. “They may choose any name, but if they designate it as Rath Yatra and proceed with taking the deities out of the sanctum sanctorum, it must align with scriptural guidelines,” he said.
