Bhubaneswar: The authorities of the Jagannath temple at Odisha’s Puri town have once again asked the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) to stop holding untimely Rath Yatra.

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has asked the Iskcon to adhere to the tradition and practices at Puri Jagannath temple while holding Rath Yatra at any place in India and outside.

Puri King Dibyasingha Deb, the chairperson of the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, has raised the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The SJTA will soon approach the state government and the Centre for appropriate measures to discourage Iskcon from holding untimely Rath Yatra.

“The SJTA will create awareness among people regarding the untimely Rath Yatra by Iskcon. The issue will be raised with the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Culture,” said the Puri King.

The SJTA will once again write to the authorities of Iskcon to stop holding unseasonal Rath Yatra. “We will be forced to opt for legal recourse if the authorities of Iskcon do not take immediate steps to stop organising untimely Rath Yatra,” added the Puri King.

It is worth mentioning here that the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, the apex decision-making body of the 12th century shrine, had earlier sent a dossier to the authorities of Iskcon and opposed unseasonal Ratha Jatra anywhere in the world.