Puri, Aug 16: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has taken a firm stance against the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) for conducting untimely Rath Yatra celebrations.

A high-level meeting was held at the Govardhan Peeth premises in Puri.

The meeting was attended by Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, temple policy administrators, senior servitors, and spiritual leader Shankaracharya Swami Nishchalananda Saraswati.

The meeting was focused on the growing concern over the untimely conduct of Rath Yatra and related rituals such as Snana Yatra being held outside the prescribed calendar.

Gajapati Maharaja presented all steps taken so far by the temple administration to halt the Rath Yatra before the Shankaracharya. It was resolved that a formal communication would be sent to the chairman of ISKCON’s governing body, conveying the temple’s complete objection to the practice.

Furthermore, it was decided that Shankaracharya’s views would be translated into English and disseminated globally, to raise awareness among devotees and religious institutions about the importance of preserving Jagannath tradition.

The SJTA emphasised that while it respects ISKCON’s efforts to spread Vaishnavism, any attempt to replicate sacred rituals outside their designated time and context is unacceptable and may invite legal or spiritual consequences.

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