Rajasthan govt stops 'untimely' Rath Yatra in Sikar after request from Puri temple authorities

Bhubaneswar, Jul 10 (PTI) The authorities of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri on Saturday said the Sikar district administration in Rajasthan has stopped an "untimely" Rath Yatra planned for July 10 following a letter from the Puri district collector. Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administrator Arabinda Padhee said Sikar district magistrate Ashish Modi issued directions to stop the proposed Rath Yatra based on a letter sent by Puri collector and SJTA deputy chief administrator Dibyajyoti Parida. The Rath Yatra was scheduled to be organised by Biswa Sanatan Dharma Seva Sansthan and Shri Khatu Shyam Mandal on Friday, five days ahead of the date prescribed in scriptures for the festival, which falls on July 16 this year. The SJTA said the Sikar administration informed the organisers that the proposed event was not in accordance with the almanac and traditions associated with the sacred festival and requested them not to conduct the Rath Yatra on an unscheduled date. Following the communication, the Sikar district magistrate directed the SP to take necessary action in the matter. The local tehsildar also appealed to the organisers not to hold the festival on the scheduled date, which was not in accordance with the traditional Hindu calendar, an official said. The Puri temple administration has been opposing the conduct of Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra outside the prescribed date by certain organisations, including ISKCON. PTI AAM AAM MNB