Chicago Ratha Yatra Sparks Outrage Among Devotees
ISKCON has come under sharp criticism after organising a Ratha Yatra procession in Chicago on a non‑festival day, using an iron chariot.
Devotees and Odia diaspora groups condemned the move, calling it a violation of Jagannath tradition.
The controversy follows similar incidents in Harrisburg and other cities, where ISKCON has been accused of disregarding ritual norms.
Earlier this month, the organisation also held an untimely Snana Yatra on June 7, sparking further outrage.
Community members have taken to social media to demand government intervention, urging authorities to act against ISKCON’s repeated violations.
Reports suggest nearly 90 untimely Ratha and Snana Yatras are planned worldwide this year, including in England and Australia.
The dispute underscores growing friction between ISKCON’s global outreach practices and traditional Odia religious sentiment, with calls for strict adherence to Jagannath’s sacred calendar.
