Rourkela: Several Odia organisations and devotees of Lord Jagannath in the United Kingdom on Saturday submitted memoranda of protest to local Iskcon centres, objecting to the proposed celebrations of Snan Yatra and Rath Yatra in May, which are scheduled well ahead of the traditional dates.
Details of the Proposed Festivals
According to the memorandum, Iskcon Bhaktivedanta Manor in Watford is scheduled to observe Snan Yatra on May 10, while the London Rath Yatra is planned for May 24. The memorandum highlights that in 2026, Snan Yatra falls on June 29 and Rath Yatra begins on July 16, on Ashadha Shukla Paksha Dwitiya, according to the traditional Jagannath calendar.
Signatories and Concerns
The memorandum was submitted by Prabashi Odia UK, Odisha Society of UK, Shree Jagannatha Temple in Bath, and devotees from the wider Indian community. They expressed concern over what they describe as the “untimely” celebration of Lord Jagannath’s sacred festivals. The groups have urged Iskcon temples in the UK and worldwide to observe Snan Yatra and Rath Yatra only on the ‘tithi’ (dates) prescribed in scriptures and followed at Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.
The signatories stated: “Rath Yatra is not merely a cultural procession but a sacred nine-day festival rooted in scriptural injunctions and centuries-old temple tradition.” They cited texts including the Skanda Purana, Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, and Niladri Mahodaya, which specify that Snan Yatra should be observed on Jyeshtha Purnima (full moon day) and Rath Yatra on Ashadha Shukla Paksha Dwitiya.
Respect for Tradition
While acknowledging Iskcon’s global role in popularising Lord Jagannath worship and devotional culture, the memorandum said: “The timing of core rituals should not be altered for convenience, crowd management or weekend accessibility.” The Odia groups also emphasised that such celebrations on non-prescribed dates deeply hurt the sentiments of millions of Jagannath devotees worldwide, particularly the Odia community, for whom the Lord is central to their spiritual, cultural and emotional identity.
