The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has sparked controversy after organising a ‘chariot parade’ in Houston on November 9, despite prior assurances to the Odisha government and Puri’s Gajapati Maharaja that it would not hold such an event outside the traditional schedule.
This unexpected move has ignited backlash from Odisha’s religious authorities and devotees, with strong criticism aimed at ISKCON for what many see as a disregard for tradition.
The chariot parade, held during ISKCON’s ‘Festival of Bliss,’ featured a replica of Lord Jagannath’s ‘Nandighosa’ chariot, though notably absent were the deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra, and Sudarsan Chakra.
Matru Prasad Mishra, spokesperson for the Govardhan Peeth in Puri, condemned the event, calling it a “conspiracy against our religion” and demanded an outright ban on ISKCON’s operations in India.
“Though Houston ISKCON had given written assurance to Puri Gajapati Maharaja and the Odisha government that they would not hold untimely Ratha Yatra, they did it, which is a conspiracy against our religion,” Mishra stated emphatically.
In response to the incident, Odisha’s Law Minister, Prithiviraj Harichandan, affirmed that the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri would make a decision on the matter.
“The state government fully backs whatever action SJTA decides to take,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a statement on ISKCON Houston’s website, Saranga Thakur Dasa, the temple’s chief, explained the adjustments made to the event, stating that the chariot parade was initially planned with the deities.
“However, there was a concern raised by some of our friends in the local community, so we decided to make a slight change of plans,” the statement read.
For ISKCON, the opportunity to offer darshan of Lord Jagannath during festivals remains central to its outreach.
“For others, however, compliance with ancient tradition and calendars is the priority,” the statement added.
A meeting between ISKCON and Puri officials is expected next month in India to discuss ways to align ISKCON’s global events with traditional calendars, aiming for mutual respect and collaboration in hosting the deity’s festivals worldwide.
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