Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, who also serves as the Chairman of the Shri Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC), has written to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking their intervention to preserve the traditional observance of Lord Jagannath's rituals. In a letter dated July 8, the Gajapati Maharaja expressed concern over the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) organising Rath Yatra and Snana Yatra on dates that differ from those prescribed by Hindu scriptures. He stated that such deviations hurt the religious sentiments of devotees and weaken centuries-old temple traditions associated with the Jagannath culture.

According to the Gajapati Maharaja, the rituals connected with Lord Jagannath are governed by well-established scriptural traditions, and any departure from the prescribed calendar should be avoided. He urged the country's highest constitutional authorities to help safeguard these customs, which have been followed for generations at the Jagannath Temple in Puri.

Objection to Proposed Madhya Pradesh Events

The letter also raises objections to ISKCON Ujjain's reported plan to organise Rath Yatras at 66 locations across Madhya Pradesh between July 16 and July 25.

The Gajapati Maharaja said that, according to Hindu scriptures, Rath Yatra is traditionally observed as a nine-day festival beginning on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya. He referred to the Skanda Purana, which attributes the prescribed dates for Snana Yatra and Rath Yatra to Lord Jagannath's own instructions as narrated by Maharishi Vedavyasa.

According to his letter, organising the festival on dates outside this traditional framework is inconsistent with long-standing religious practices followed at the Puri temple.

Different Dates Spark Debate

The main Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha, is scheduled to take place on July 16, 2026.

However, ISKCON has already organised Rath Yatra celebrations in several countries this year, including London on June 21, New York City on June 14, and Sydney on July 5. Meanwhile, Snana Purnima was observed on June 29, creating a gap between overseas celebrations and the Puri temple calendar.

The differing schedules have once again brought attention to the longstanding discussion over how Jagannath festivals should be observed outside India.

ISKCON's Stand

Responding to similar concerns raised previously by the Puri temple administration, ISKCON has maintained that Lord Jagannath belongs to devotees worldwide and that overseas celebrations often require adjustments because of local conditions.

The organisation has said that factors such as weather conditions, government regulations, public holidays, venue availability, and local cultural circumstances make it difficult in many countries to organise Rath Yatra on the exact date observed in Puri.

According to ISKCON, scheduling flexibility allows more devotees to participate while promoting Jagannath culture across different parts of the world.

A Long-Running Dispute

The disagreement over Rath Yatra dates is not new. Similar concerns were raised by the Puri Gajapati Maharaja in 2024 and 2025, when he urged ISKCON to align overseas celebrations with the traditional Puri religious calendar.

The issue has gained renewed attention in 2026 after several international Rath Yatras were held weeks before the main festival in Puri. While the Puri temple administration continues to stress adherence to scriptural traditions, ISKCON maintains that practical considerations in different countries require flexibility in scheduling. The debate reflects the broader challenge of balancing centuries-old religious customs with the realities of organising global cultural and devotional events.