Baltimore (USA)/Bhubaneswar (Odisha): The organisation of an untimely Rath Yatra, deviating from the auspicious occasion of Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya, has once again drawn strong displeasure from Jagannath devotees.

Several Odias and followers of Lord Jagannath residing in Baltimore, the USA, have expressed dissatisfaction over ISKCON’s decision to hold the Rath Yatra on May 30, outside the traditionally prescribed date.

Aliva Pattanayak, a non-resident Odia, said while Rath Yatra can be celebrated outside Puri, it should strictly adhere to the tithis prescribed in sacred scriptures and the long-standing traditions of the Puri Srimandir.

Echoing similar sentiments, another devotee, Mahesh Mohanty, stated organising the Rath Yatra on an arbitrary date violates established Hindu traditions. “Rath Yatra is observed on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya. Celebrating it on any other date hurts the sentiments of Jagannath devotees,” he said.

Earlier, a group of non-resident Odias in Virginia had written to the President of ISKCON, Baltimore, urging him to reconsider the schedule of the Rath Yatra held on May 30.

The community also requested ISKCON to align its public celebrations with the traditional Rath Yatra dates, expected to fall between July 16 and July 24, 2026.

Highlighting references from the sacred Skanda Purana, the group appealed to the ISKCON leadership not to organise the Rath Yatra outside the prescribed period. They stated observing the festival beyond the sacred timeframe is inconsistent with scriptural injunctions and the age-old traditions associated with Lord Jagannath.

This is not an isolated instance. ISKCON also organised a similar chariot festival in Canada on May 30, which reportedly drew criticism from devotees, who termed it a violation of long-standing religious practices.