Dibya Singha Deb, Puri’s Gajapati (the titular king) and the chairman of the Puri Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, has threatened to take legal action against the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) if it does not refrain from organising Lord Jagannath’s untimely Rath Yatras across the world.

Despite several requests, the Iskcon has made no announcement so far about cancellation of its plan for Rath Yatra celebration at the American Legion Park in Houston, USA, on November 9. The event continues to feature on its website despite Deb’s appeal and its letter to the chairman of the Iskcon’s governing body. This has irked both the Gajapati and the Odisha government.

Addressing a media conference, the Gajapati said: “Untimely celebration of Rath Yatra is a complete deviation of the tradition at Puri Shree Jagannath Temple. If they go ahead with their proposed Rath Yatra celebration at Houston, it will hurt crores of devotees of Lord Jagannath across the globe. Our objective is not to stop a single Rath Yatra but to stop the untimely Rath Yatras being organised in different parts of the world at different times.”

Affirming that the temple management committee wants to resolve the issue peacefully, Deb said: “We have already made them aware of our culture, tradition, and feelings associated with the Jagannath culture. If they don’t stop conducting the untimely Rath Yatras, we will take legal action then. But that will be our last resort. They should not testour patience.”

However, the Gajapati is yet to announce what legal action the temple management committee is contemplating to take against Iskcon if it continues to insist on organising untimely Rath Yatras.

Odisha law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan had also appealed to Iskcon to stop untimely Rath Yatra.

The Ratha Jatra of Lord Jagannath is organised every year on Shukla Dwitiya of the Ashadha months, as per the Hindu Almanac.

The Gajapati said: “We have no objection to Iskconspreading the message of Vaishnav Dharma, but no attempt should be made to break the age-old tradition, It has already been mentioned in the Skanda Purana what to be followed during the Rath Yatra. Lord Jagannath should not be taken out of the temple except the regular Snana Yatra and Rath Yatra.”

Taking a swipe at Iskcon, Deb said: “They have been holding the untimely rath yatras since 1969. After the temple management committee and the state government took up the issue several times, they no longer organise the untimely Rath Yatra in India since 2021. However, they are still holding untimely Rath Yatras abroad, which should be stopped.”

Stating that they have already taken up the issue with the Iskcon and even made them aware of what is prescribed in the scriptures, Deb said: “I am still hopeful that they will accept our suggestions. We are in touch with Iskcon. They have their governing council meeting to be held in March. I hope they will seriously consider our suggestion and stop organising such untimely Rath Yatras in any part of the world.”

Local Iskcon officials said: “Do not drag us into that controversy. The governing body will take a call on this issue.”