Do Not Violate Jagannath Culture and Tradition" - Puri King
BY: DEBABRATA MOHAPATRA

Nov 16, JAGANNATHA PURI, ORISSA — The scion of Puri Royal family, Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb, has appealed to the ISKCON body not to violate the Jagannath culture and tradition by celebrating Rath Yatra untimely at different places in the country and abroad.

The King's reaction came a few days after the priests and cultural enthusiasts here protested the seasonal deviation in celebrating Rath Yatra. They were piqued at ISKCON's proposed Rath Yatra to be observed on different dates, at various locations. Priests and locals under the banner of Jagannath Sena demonstrated in front of the Jagannath Temple and burnt the effigy of Srila Prabhupada, the Founder of ISKCON. The sena's national convener, Priyadarshan Pattanaik, gave a memorandum to the 12th century shrine Chief Administrator to take legal proceedings against the violators.

Jagannath Sena's burning of the effigy evoked sharp reactions from ISKCON society members across the world. Krishna followers were hurt at the "insane" behaviour of the Sena activists. "The activists should not have burnt the effigy of Srila Prabhupada. This is an insane act by the Sena men. God will not forgive them," said an ISKCON devotee here.

"This is sad that ISKCON has flouted Jagannath Tradition of celebrating Rath Yatra, which is celebrated on asadha sukla dwitiya that falls in June and July mostly," Dibyasingha Deb said.

Last year also, Rath Yatra was celebrated on different dates by the ISKCON society at many places. "In fact we had sent letter to the Governing Body of ISKCON to stop untimely celebration of Rath Yatra on different dates. They had also pledged us to abide by the Jagannath tradition. But I don't know what went wrong this time," the Puri Maharaja said.

"However, we have again sent letter to the body to stop such activities. Even we have asked the state government to take some action. If this does not yield any result, we may take legal action. But we will wait till the reply from the ISKCON body," Dibyasingha Deb said.

Glimpses of Ludhiana Rath Yatra

BY: BHAKTA KAPLISH
<CENTER></CENTER>


Nov 16, LUDHIANA, INDIA (SUN) — Lord Jagannatha Ratha Yatra festival concluded with great devotion and dedication in Ludhiana. About five Lakh devotees from India and abroad participated in this festival of chariot. The route of the parade was beautifully decorated and Sankirtan parties recited melodious kirtana. The six kilometer parade route was covered in eight hours.

His Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj, GBC and BBT Trustee, offered arati to the deities of Jagannatha, Baldev and Lady Subhadra. Mr. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh state of India, was the chief guest.

<CENTER></CENTER>


Among others who participated in the parade were His Holiness Vedavyasapriya Swami Maharaj, His Holiness Pravodha Nand Maharaj, HG Mahaman das (ACBSP), Zonal Secretary HG Vaiyasaki das (ACBSP), HG Makhan Lal Prabhu, (ACBSP), HG Sarvabhauma das, HG Mohan Rupa das, Temple President of ISKCON New Delhi main temple, HG Vidurpriya das, Co-Temple President ISKCON Ludhiana, HG Sakshi Gopal Das, Temple President, ISKCON Kurukshetra, HG Akinchan Priya das, along with devotees from ISKCON Chandigarh, devotees from ISKCON Vrindavan and ISKCON New Delhi, devotees from U.SA., Russia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, HG Bhaktivinode das, HG Krishan Kanti das, Ex-Temple President of ISKCON Chandigarh, and book distribution parties from New Delhi and Kolkatta.

To see more pictures please visit our website.

<CENTER></CENTER>

<CENTER>

Reconciliation? A Letter to Puri Officials

BY: JAGABANDHU DAS


Nov 15, FORT WHITE, FLORIDA (SUN) —

Respected Venerables; Please excuse me. Sorry to bother you.

I was very sorry to hear of the Sri Ratha-yatra scheduling disagreement which has taken place between the various sevaites of Sri Jagannatha Dev.


If we consider the story from Srimad-Bhagavatam about Maharaj Amburish and the offense against his lotus feet by Durvas Muni, along with Lord Vishnu's advice to Durvas Muni: cannot the grave offense to Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and his worldwide followers

possibly become ameliorated by the earnestly appealed for forgiveness by the offenders, who voluntarily with profusely apologetic fervor might then escort the palanquin-carried murti of Sri Jagannatha Dev's universally- acclaimed, exalted and dearmost servitor Srila Prabhupada into the sanctorum of Sri Jagannatha Dev's own temple in Puri, for a maha guru-puja offering to His Divine Grace in the Divine Presence of Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladev and Lady Subhadra, thereby giving hopeful opportunity for the offenders to become rectified and redeemed by recompense fulfilled?



In this way, the global family of Sri Jagannatha Dev, regardless of particular specific institutional affiliation might become pacified and aspirantly re-united in concerted action for that one genuinely mutually beneficial aim of prolifically promulgating truly universal Love of Godhead throughout the world.

To give dishonor, honors no one.

Humbly,
the lowly Jagabandhu das

</CENTER>