Bhubaneswar: The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has come under fresh criticism after referring to Goddess Subhadra as "Smt Subhadra Devi" in a social media post about the Rath Yatra, drawing objections from devotees who said the wording does not align with the traditional Jagannath culture.

In a post on X, ISKCON wrote: "The Rath Yatra is a divine pastime of Lord Jagannath who along with Lord Balabhadra and Smt Subhadra Devi come out on their chariot to bestow their darshan and blessings on to one and all."

The post sparked criticism from several users, with many opining that the form of address was inappropriate in the context of the Jagannath tradition.

Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik also responded, urging ISKCON to revise the wording.

In his reply on X, Pattnaik said, "I would like to inform ISKCON my observation regarding the Rath Jatra message. It mentions 'Smt Subhadra Devi.' In the Jagannath tradition, the devotees address Her as 'Maa Subhadra Devi' with deep reverence. I humbly request that this wording be reviewed and updated to better reflect the devotional culture and tradition of Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannath. Kindly follow the Shree Jagannath Mahaprabhu tradition and culture."

The controversy comes at a time when ISKCON is already facing criticism from devotees over its practice of organising Rath Yatras in different parts of the world on dates that do not coincide with the traditional Rath Yatra observed in Puri.