BY SARVABHAVANA DAS

July 11 1999 — Lord Jagganatha And Iskcon Calcutta Temple Get Justice In Calcutta High Court

In an unprecedented decision the ISKCON Calcutta temple has just won a court decision from a communist judge not known to be favorably disposed to Religious festivals. He has overturned the Police Commissioner's attempt to ban the yearly Ratha Yatra festival here, which is the largest in the world, drawing over 1 million people. 

This history of the dispute is as follows. Until 3 years ago the Calcutta Ratha Yatra was held every year without any trouble, and grew bigger and bigger in size each year. Unfortunately 3 years ago a new police commissioner for the city of Calcutta was appointed. He had 2 nephews who had become devotees - one is a current ISKCON temple president. For that reason he has nursed a very heavy grudge against ISKCON ever since. Thus as soon as he became police commissioner he vowed to stop the Ratha Yatra.

Being the police commissioner he has enormous power and the case seemed hopeless for the temple. Last year he attempted to stop the Ratha Yatra by purposely delaying giving permission for the erection of the pandal for the 7 day festival that follows the Ratha Yatra. This tactic is hugely damaging, for the pandal is in effect a mini-temple as large as the Bombay temple. Building experts had advised that such a huge construction, would take at least 21 days minimum. The commissioner knew this, and last year he gave permission only 6 days before the festival was to begin. This way he thought he had ruined the festival. However by Lord Jagganatha's mercy, through a miracle somehow the temple managed to erect the whole pandal in 6 days. Everyone was amazed and was convinced that Lord Jagannatha himself had constructed the pandal in such a short space of time.         

This year the commissioner was even more determined to stop the Ratha Yatra having already tasted defeat at the hands of the Lord of the Universe.

Thus this year he went for the killer blow - he simply refused permission for the parade. Without this there can be no festival. And just to be sure he also delayed giving permission for the erection of the pandal until 4 days before the festival. Fearing that they will never be able to put up the pandal in such a short time the temple had twice began constructing the pandal earlier, and twice the commissioner sent 20 policemen to smash up the whole pandal and the temple were forced to start again. Last year the commissioner thought 6 days would have finished us. Having seen that did not work, he has now managed to cut it to 4. He has to by law give permission for the pandal, but he can use every trick in the book to delay giving it. . .However Lord Jagannatha is helping the Calcutta temple - so let's see if they can do in 4 days a job that must take at least 21 days minimum normally!

However the permission for the parade was still in the commisioner's hands. But Adridharan das, the Calcutta temple president, was not going to give up without fighting on behalf of Lord Jagannatha. He went to court to seek justice, even though we had a judge who was not favourable. Thus he did not hold out much hope, and simply prayed to Lord Jagannatha. However Lord Jagannatha intervened again and the following judgement was given:

Earlier in the day, Adridharan das who has been masterminding this victory over the police commisioner on behalf of Lord Jagannatha, held a news conference, protesting this police harrassment. It was attended by 28 reporters and 4 TV stations. He gave a speech on the importance of Lord Jaggantha's Ratha yatra festival and it was broadcasted on West Bengal's most popular TV show.

Please note that had the judge not given this order the festival could not have taken place, and the police commisioner would have won. You cannot have a festival as large as this without the authorities agreeing. Yet even the judge was not going to stand in the way of the 'lord of the universe'. Please compare the action taken by this 'karmi' judge in a 'karmi' court, where kali is supposed to rule, with the sentiments of certain 'devotees', led by Ajamila das, who were praying that the festival would be cancelled. Below are just a couple of examples of these 'devotional' sentiments:

Commenting on the above view of Krishna Kirti Das, was:

Please note that Lord Jagannatha reigns supreme all over the universe - even in a Calcutta High Court - as the above shows.

Everyone from all over the word is invited to attend Calcutta on July 14th, to see the 'Lord of the Universe'.

Lord Jagannatha's Ratha Yatra ki jai!