ISKCON Rath Yatra was organized in Houston on November 9. ISKCON is being criticized for this Rath Yatra. However, ISKCON had already assured the Odisha government and the Gajapati Maharaj of Puri that the Rath Yatra would not be organized except at a fixed time. A Rath Yatra was taken out in Houston, America, in which God's Rath Yatra was taken out. But it did not house the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra. The parade was organized during ISKCON's 'Festival of Bliss'. After that, Odisha government and devotees also criticized this program.
Matru Prasad Mishra, spokesperson of Puri's Govardhan Peeth, said the program was against religion. He said that ISKCON should be banned in India. Mishra said, ISKCON in Houston had assured in writing that they would not organize the Rath Yatra at the wrong time. He has conspired with our religion.
Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said that only the Shri Jagannath Temple administration will take any decision in this matter. However, whatever decision the temple takes, the state government will support it. There, a statement on the Houston ISKCON website said that earlier the temple had considered doing a Rath Yatra with the idols. However, the plan was changed when local people also expressed concern about it.
The statement said that devotees coming to the festival want to have darshan of Lord Jagannath. There it is also necessary to respect the tradition. The statement said that there will be a meeting between ISKCON and Puri officials next month and whatever agreement is reached will be acted upon. A way must be found keeping in mind both the traditional calendar and the wishes of the devotees.
What is the Rath Yatra controversy? ISKCON will organize a Rath Yatra in Houston on November 9. While earlier ISKCON had said that they would never organize a Rath Yatra outside India. But despite this assurance, the Rath Yatra was organized. In this arrangement, a replica of Lord Jagannath's chariot in ISKCON was included in the parade. But it did not include idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra and Sudarshan Chakra. This was organized under the Anand Utsav of ISKCON.
What was said from ISKCON Houston ISKCON president Sarang Thakur Das uploaded a statement on the organization's Website. It is mentioned that earlier we wanted to organize a Rath Yatra with the deities but local people expressed concern. After that the plan was changed. The aim of our festival was to give people a chance to see Lord Jagannath. ISKCON officials will hold a meeting with Puri officials on the issue.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
