Odisha Forum Appeals to President Murmu to Safeguard Sanctity of Ratha Yatra

The Odisha Forum, Delhi, has submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu urging protection of the sanctity and authenticity of Lord Jagannatha’s Ratha Yatra.

The delegation highlighted concerns over celebrations organised outside the prescribed nine‑day period, particularly by ISKCON abroad, warning that such practices risk confusing devotees and diluting the unique identity of the Puri tradition.

The Forum emphasised that the Puri Ratha Yatra, one of the world’s oldest religious festivals, is conducted strictly according to sacred scriptures under the supervision of the Gajapati Maharaja and Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration.

Scholars and the Puri Shankaracharya have affirmed that the Yatra must only be celebrated within the scripturally mandated period.

The memorandum outlined four key appeals: alignment of ISKCON’s global celebrations with the Puri calendar, adherence by all organisations to the traditional schedule, official recognition of the Yatra as India’s unique spiritual heritage, and government support for inscription on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

Additionally, the Forum requested the establishment of a cultural centre for Odisha in Delhi, a proposal welcomed by the President.

The delegation included Shri Gokul Patnaik, Shri Rabi Pani, Ms Ipsita Behura, Dr Nivedita Giri, and Adv. Sanjib Kumar Mohanty and Shri Bimal Panda.