Iskcon faces criticism for conducting unscheduled Rath Yatra in Sandton
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Bhubaneswar: The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) has once again sparked controversy by conducting an out-of-schedule Rath Yatra celebration in Sandton, South Africa, drawing sharp criticism from devotees and religious authorities alike.
The organisation's recent celebration, their fourth annual event in Sandton, was publicised through their official social media channels, leading to immediate backlash from various quarters. This marks the fourth instance in recent times where Iskcon organised Rath Yatra outside its traditional schedule.
Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik voiced strong opposition to Iskcon's actions, emphasising that such deviations from tradition hurt the sentiments of millions of Jagannath devotees worldwide.
"Very unfortunate to see Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra was already celebrated in Africa by ISKCON. After so many requests from SJTA and all the devotees, again they deviated the unification of Ratha Yatra dates to preserve the cultural and spiritual sanctity of Maha Prabhu Jagannath," Pattnaik stated on social media platform X.
The controversy follows a similar incident last week in Chelmsford, London, where Iskcon conducted another untimely Rath Yatra.
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In Nov last year, the organisation faced intense opposition for a planned celebration in Houston, USA, which was later modified to a Sankirtan Yatra following intervention from Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb.
Balaram Lenka, a devoted follower of Lord Jagannath, expressed strong disapproval of Iskcon's actions, stating, "Despite repeated warnings, Iskcon is continuing the violation which seems deliberate.
This is not tolerable at any cost."
Religious experts emphasise that the Rath Yatra, one of the most significant festivals in the Jagannath tradition, must be observed according to specific astronomical calculations and ancient scriptures.
The traditional celebration takes place during the Ashadha month in the Hindu calendar, making any deviation a serious concern for devotees. Pattnaik has called for intervention from the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration to address this recurring issue.
While Iskcon Sandton celebrated their "Fourth Annual Rathayatra Festival with Grand Success" according to their social media post on May 20, local Iskcon authorities have remained unavailable for comment on the controversy.
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