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Puri locks horns with ISKCON over chariot festival

Dec 17, 2007, 12:18 GMT

Puri (Orissa), Dec 17 (IANS) The Jagannath temple administration announced Monday that it may sue the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) for violating traditions of the Rath Yatra festival. Rath yatra, or the ancient festival of chariots, is an annual event celebrated in this Orissa town that is home to the famous 12th century Jagannath temple. Idols of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra are ferried from the Jagannath temple in Puri to another shrine called the Gundicha temple in three chariots during this annual festival, held on the second day of the fortnight of Ashadha (June-July). According to the temple administration in Puri, ISKCON has been organising this festival during the wrong months in different parts of the globe. There are thousands of Jagannath temples in India and abroad. But all of them follow the Puri roster. They host the annual yatra on the same day every year. It is only ISKCON that does not organise the Rath Yatra on July 16, a Puri temple priest said. The public relation officer of the Jagannath temple administration, Laxmidhar Pujapanda, said Oriya devotees had recently informed them that ISCKON organised the festival in Ludhiana in Punjab on Oct 6 and in Chandigarh on Dec 1. In other Jagannath temples, it was held on July 16. The temple administration has written to ISKCON on the issue and is also considering legal action. © 2007 Indo-Asian News Service

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Bhakta BillyMar 3rd, 2008 - 17:50:57

All my obeisances to ALL Vaishnavas!

I can empathize for the tradition. I feel like because every climate in the world is different, it makes sense to commemorate Ratha Yatra whenever it can be organized for the greatest propagation of Krishna Consciousness. This of course means there will not be any change in the Puri Ratha Yatra date though!

Hare Bol!

In your humble service,
Bhakta Billy

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