What Happened at the Rath Yatra in Toronto? Naveen Patnaik Speaks Out!

BJD president Naveen Patnaik has expressed his distress over an incident during the Rath Yatra in Toronto, where eggs were reportedly thrown at devotees. He emphasized the emotional significance of the festival for the people of Odisha and called for the government to take action. Patnaik urged the Odisha government to address the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure a strong protest is made to Canadian authorities. This incident has raised concerns among the global community of Lord Jagannath's devotees.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 14, 2025, 15:29 IST

Concern Over Disturbing Incident at Rath Yatra

Bhubaneswar: On Monday, BJD leader Naveen Patnaik voiced his dismay regarding an incident where eggs were reportedly thrown at devotees during the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Toronto, Canada.

In a message shared on X, Patnaik stated, "I am deeply troubled by the news of eggs being thrown at devotees during the #RathaJatra celebrations in Toronto, Canada. Such actions not only deeply offend the sentiments of Lord Jagannath's followers globally but also bring significant distress to the people of #Odisha, for whom this festival is of immense emotional and cultural importance."

The Opposition leader in the Odisha Assembly further mentioned that if these reports are indeed true, "the #Odisha Government (@CMO_Odisha) must take this issue seriously and prompt the Ministry of External Affairs (@MEAIndia) to lodge a strong protest with the Canadian authorities."