Bhubaneswar, Aug. 10 -- A Snana Yatra organised by ISKCON Berkeley in California on Sunday, August 9, has sparked controversy among Jagannath culture enthusiasts in Odisha. A video of the event shows devotees pouring water over Lord Jagannath and the other deities as part of the bathing ritual. The event has drawn objections over its timing, with devotees arguing that Snana Yatra follows a specific traditional calendar.

The video shows water being offered to the deities during the ceremony at the ISKCON centre. The event was held after the traditional period for the annual Jagannath rituals, according to critics who have questioned the observance of the ceremony on a different date.

Rajesh Dash, a non-resident Odia, alleged that ISKCON ...