Bhubaneswar: The authorities of Jagannath temple at Odisha’s Puri town have opposed the untimely Rath Yatra being organised by a religious outfit in Hapur district of Uttar Pradesh.

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) today wrote to the district administration of Hapur and urged it to take appropriate steps to prevent Bhagaban Shree Jagannath Ratha Yatra Seva Samiti from holding the Rath Yatra on June 14.

“As per media reports, the religious outfit is planning to observe the Netrotsav on June 13 and Rath Yatra on June 14. The proposed schedule is not in consonance with the prescribed religious calendar and the established scriptural traditions governing these sacred observances,” said SJTA chief administrator Arabinda Kumar Padhee in the letter.

As per the traditional Tithi, the Netrotsava of Lord Jagannath will be observed on July 14 at Puri while Rath Yatra is scheduled for July 16. Any observance of these sacred festivals on dates other than those prescribed by tradition and scripture is likely to hurt the religious sentiments of millions of devotees of Lord Jagannath across India and abroad, added Padhee.

According to Padhee, the SJTA, under resolutions adopted by its Managing Committee, has expressed its strong objection to untimely Rath Yatra.

In his letter, Padhee urged Hapur district Collector Kavita Meena to ensure that the Rath Yatra of the religious outfit is observed strictly in accordance with the established religious traditions and scriptural prescriptions of Puri Jagannath temple.