Shree Jagannath Pancharatra Prachar Samiti warns against unauthorized Rath Yatra dates

Bhubaneswar(By Abhishek Mohanty):The Shree Jagannath Pancharatra Prachar Samiti has reaffirmed that the traditions and rituals of the Shree Jagannath Temple are sacred and immutable, cautioning that conducting the annual Rath Yatra on unauthorized or non-traditional dates would constitute a serious violation.

The Samiti, led by President Mahanta Ramkrushna Das Maharaj, Vice President Baikuntha Mohapatra, and Secretary Prabhakar Mallik and Niranjan Dash, emphasized that Lord Jagannath is a living deity, not merely an idol, and the temple’s rituals are not subject to administrative discretion or human alteration.

A workshop held recently at Radhaballav Math in Bhubaneswar, which included readings from the Skanda Purana, brought together prominent devotees and scholars such as Dr. Narayan Mohapatra, Suresh Mishra, Trilochan Nayak, Rashmi Ranjan Pattnaik, Banshidhar Nayak, Srinibas Rao, Pushpalata Pradhan, and Gaurang Nayak. They collectively underscored that temple customs preserve the sanctity and spiritual environment of the shrine.

The Samiti expressed concern over recent discussions in Odisha regarding the observance of Rath Yatra on unofficial dates, warning that such deviations could disrupt the sacred daily routines of the Lord. 
They stressed that attempts to modify temple traditions for tourism or convenience are unacceptable and could invite grave consequences.

Calling upon the government and temple administration, the Samiti urged firm action to safeguard the rituals.

Devotees were also requested to recognize Lord Jagannath as a living deity and uphold the sanctity of his eternal customs.