Bhubaneswar, Nov. 10 -- Amidst backlash, the International Society For Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) observed the Rath Yatra in Houston, US. The holy chariot, resembling the Nandighosha of Lord Jagannath in Puri, was pulled by devotees in huge numbers in the US city.

This comes a few days after ISKCON promised to host a Sankirtan Yatra instead of the untimely Rath Yatra.

"Respecting the sentiments of Odia devotees of Lord Jagannath, the Houston Rath Yatra is cancelled," the organisation stated in a press release. However, the chariot festival was organised in the name of 'Festival of Bliss', affecting the beliefs of Lord Jagannath devotees in Odisha.

Commenting on the issue, senior servitor Binayak Das Mohapatra said, "Despite repeate...