Bhubaneswar, Sep 6: The Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA) has formally issued a strong statement condemning the untimely conduct of sacred festivals such as Snana Yatra and Ratha Yatra by several ISKCON temples across India and abroad, calling such practices a blatant violation of scriptural injunctions and ancient traditions.
The SJTA has urged ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) in Mayapur to take immediate corrective steps—preferably within one month—to ensure that all future observances of Snana Yatra and Ratha Yatra across all ISKCON temples globally are conducted in strict adherence to scriptures and established tradition, safeguarding the sanctity of Lord Jagannath’s most sacred festivals.
According to SJTA, sacred texts such as the Mahapuranas, composed by Maharshi Vedavyas, along with the divine commandments of Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannatha and long-standing traditions of the Shreemandira (Jagannatha Temple), clearly prescribe the timing and significance of these festivals.
Snana Yatra — marking the “Adi Manifestation” or birthday of Mahaprabhu — must be held only on Jyestha Poornima, and the Ratha Yatra, commemorating the Lord’s annual journey to His birth place “Gundicha-mundapam”, is to be celebrated solely on Asadha Shukla Paksha. It is a nine-day sacred yatra, as per scriptures.
Despite these clear prescriptions, SJTA noted that Snana Yatra and Ratha Yatra have been conducted on arbitrary dates by over 40 ISKCON temples in India and at least 68 ISKCON centres abroad this year alone (up to September 2025), defying scriptural authority and tradition.
This issue is not new, the SJTA clarified. Over the years, it has engaged in repeated dialogue with ISKCON leaders, urging them to align their observance of these sacred festivals with the scriptural norms. A major breakthrough appeared to occur in July 2021, when the ISKCON Governing Council in Mumbai formally resolved to observe all Ratha Yatras within India as per tradition. However, for ISKCON temples abroad, the matter was deferred to the ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC) based in Mayapur, West Bengal.
In a meeting held on 2 December 2024 in Puri, Shree Gajapati Maharaja, the Chairman of the Shreemandira Managing Committee, and the Chief Administrator of SJTA once again appealed directly to the ISKCON leadership to comply with traditional norms. This was followed by a scholarly meeting on 20 March 2025 in Bhubaneswar, where ISKCON representatives presented their rationale for conducting the festivals on alternative dates.
However, after a thorough review of ISKCON’s justifications, SJTA-appointed scholars concluded that ISKCON’s arguments were baseless, incorrect, and in direct violation of sacred scriptures and tradition. This conclusion was formally ratified by the Shreemandira Managing Committee on 3 September 2025, and a report along with a forwarding letter from Shree Gajapati Maharaja has now been sent to the Chairman of ISKCON GBC (Mayapur).
SJTA strongly emphasized that no festival—whether in Sanatana Vaidika Dharma or other world religions—should be performed outside the prescribed sacred dates.
