Bhubaneswar, Nov 6
The ISKCON has announced that the society will not hold the proposed Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Houston city of US on November 9. The organisation took the decision following widespread resentment among the devotees over the untimely celebration of the Rath Yatra by the organisation.
"Finally, respecting the sentiments of Odiya devotees of Lord Jagannath, the Houston Rath Yatra is cancelled. They will do Gour Nitai Sankirtan Yatra," said Tukaram Das, Vice President of ISKCON Bhubaneswar, in a press statement released on Tuesday. He further informed that the decision was conveyed by National Communications Director Yudhistir Govinda Prabhu after his discussion with Anuttama Prabhu, a member of ISKCON's Governing Body Commission & GBC Minister for Communications. Responding to criticisms against it, the society clarified through the statement, "ISKCON is not a Christian organization or promoting Christianity in the name of Sanatan Dharma. One can read our books to understand our philosophy better. We are coming in the most authentic and bona fide Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Parampara. We speak & preach exactly what is written in Vedic Literature." Earlier, the Puri King, Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb, urged the organization to abstain from conducting the Rath Yatra in Houston on November 9 during a press conference on Tuesday. "Odia people are very much patient, and we have to keep patience for some more time. We have to wait for the GBC meeting scheduled to be held in March this year. If they don't accept, 'enough is enough.' We will take legal recourse then," said Deb. He also informed that ISKCON has been organizing untimely Rath Yatras since 1969. Supporting the views expressed by the Puri King, the Law Minister of Odisha, Prithiviraj Harichandan, stated on Tuesday that action will be taken against anyone found distorting or disrespecting the Jagannath culture.