Urbanisation pressures spur reduction in chariot heights in city
Bhubaneswar: Rise in road level, overhead power and cable lines and new flyovers along the chariot routes in the city has forced temple committees to reduce their height by 2-3 feet.
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Organisers said the move impacted the design and appearance of the chariots.
"Before the construction of the overbridge at CRP Square, the height of our chariots was 25ft. But after the overbridge was opened on NH-16, we had to cross it. So, we reduced the height of our chariots to 22ft so they can easily pass through," said Banamali Jagannath Das, chairman of the festival committee, Iskcon Temple. The temple at Nayapalli has been organising Rath Yatra for the last 36 years and is one of the major crowd-pullers.
"Over the last decade, we made gradual adjustments to the chariot height. It is not by choice, but by necessity. We also carry two big bamboo logs so that we can raise the overhead wires that obstruct the path when the chariot is pulled," said Ashok Raj, secretary of the organising committee of Rental Colony Rath Yatra.
Among others, the chariots from Shrivani Kshetra on KISS campus traverse a wide road, but still the organisers reduced their heights this year.
"The reduction in height of the chariots by 2-3ft each is quite visible. But we did not have any option but to make the event incident-free and avoid the chariots touching overhead electric wires," said Rabindranath Biswal, general manager of KIIT Temple Trust.
Organisers said the reduced height impacted not just the chariot structure but also the aesthetics. "Earlier, the towering chariots could be seen from a distance. The awe-inspiring feeling is missing now," Biswal added. Organisers have appealed to civic authorities to consider the festival's requirements. "We understand the city is growing, but Bhubaneswar is also rich in heritage. Our traditions should be factored into urban planning," said Madhusudan Moharana, a carpenter involved in making chariots.
"The chariots look smaller now, and it affects the overall grandeur of the procession," said Namita Das, a resident of Nayapalli, who has witnessed the Iskcon Rath Yatra for the last 20 years.
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