Do we celebrate festivals such as Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Mahashivaratri, Sri Ram Navami and Durga Puja on unspecified days, asks the king.

The Gajapati Maharaja said he had written to the Chairman of Governing Body Commission, ISKCON, Mayapur (West Bengal) in 2008 urging them to hold Rath Yatra on the specific date as observed in Puri.

According to tradition and custom of Sanatana Vedic Dharma, he said the presiding deities do not leave the throne in the sanctum sanctorium of the temple. It is the ‘chalanti pratima’ representing the presiding deities are taken out of the temple on various festive occasions.

However, as per an exception made in in the tradition of Lord Jagannath, the presiding deities, in order to bless everyone with their sacred darshan, come out of the temple on two auspicious occasion ‘snan yatra’ (Bath Festival) on Jyestha Purnima and Rath Yatra, he said.

“There is no sanction either in the scriptures or tradition for the performance of the festivals of the Lord on any other day like many other sacred festivals including Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Mahashivaratri, Sri Ram Navami and Durga Puja, which are observed on the days specified across the globe,” the king pointed out.

Read more: http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2019/sep/10/puri-king-urges-iskcon-not-to-hold-rath-yatra-on-unspecified-days-2031669.html?fbclid=IwAR0UrVwY1yfDbCtP6Mp8J4DBVVhZQ7VJajRS7nBV2iUoAiRs5q8DWKS-iqs