Sabyasachi Mishra Rebukes Rajdeep Sardesai Over Puri Rath Yatra Remark

Bhubaneswar: A seemingly offhand social media post by senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai has ignited a storm of criticism after he referred to the Jagannath Rath Yatra as having “two addresses” — one in Puri, Odisha, and another in Digha, West Bengal.
The phrasing was widely condemned by Odia devotees, cultural voices, and prominent figures as undermining the sanctity and singular status of the historic Puri Rath Yatra, which is not only a major religious festival but a deep-rooted expression of Odia identity and civilizational pride.

https://x.com/sabyaactor/status/1938858635603677527

Leading the charge in defending the cultural heritage was Sabyasachi Mishra, one of Odisha’s most beloved actors and public figures. In a direct and passionate post, he expressed his disappointment, calling out Sardesai’s statement as “contradictory and hurtful.”

“Your original tweet says ‘Rath Yatra has 2 addresses’, and now you say ‘No comparison with Jagannath Yatra’. I hope you’re aware this is not the first Jagannath temple to be built. Thousands exist worldwide, and we, as true Bhaktas of Mahaprabhu, feel proud of that.”

Mishra concluded with a poetic and culturally charged reminder:
“Even my Bengali friends are upset with your phrasing. Odisha and Bengal deserve your apology. I leave it to your conscience. Remember sir, ‘ଚକା ଆଖି ସବୁ ଦେଖୁଛି’ (The Chariot-Eyed Lord sees all).”

Following Mishra’s statement, hashtags like #ApologizeRajdeep and #RespectPuriRathYatra began trending across X (formerly Twitter), reflecting a broader wave of online discontent.
Attempting damage control, Sardesai clarified: “There is NO comparison with the Jagannath Yatra in Puri, since it will always be the original. But if new Jagannath temples are built and more yatras are held, as in Digha, we should welcome it as true devotees.”

However, many netizens and cultural commentators found the clarification inadequate, accusing Sardesai of attempting to equate an ancient, sacred tradition with newer imitative events, which are seen more as symbolic gestures rather than legitimate counterparts.

Historians and cultural experts have weighed in to assert that the Puri Rath Yatra is not merely a religious procession, but an event over a thousand years old, intrinsic to the ethos of Odisha and central to the faith of millions worldwide. While global Ratha Jatras — including those in London, New York, and Singapore — celebrate Lord Jagannath’s spirit, they do so in homage to Puri, never in parallel to it.

The growing demand for a public apology has yet to be met. But for many, Sabyasachi Mishra’s heartfelt, culturally rooted response has emerged as a dignified voice speaking for a community fiercely proud of its devotion, tradition, and identity.

As the debate continues, one thing remains clear: the Chariot of Puri is not just wood and wheels—it’s memory, meaning, and a movement of the soul.