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India Gazette
27-06-2025
- India Gazette
"It is a dream come true," says Ecuadorian devotee as people from around the world join Rath Yatra in Puri
Puri (Odisha) [India], June 27 (ANI): Devotees from across the world have gathered in Puri to witness the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, as the grand chariots of the three deities--Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra, and sister Goddess Subhadra--make their way to the Gundicha temple, where the deities will reside for a week before returning to the Jagannath Temple. A woman devotee of Ecuadorian origin, currently residing in the United States, expressed her joy at attending the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri for the first time. Calling it a 'dream come true,' she said she felt blessed to have the darshan of Lord Jagannath and to share the spiritual experience with fellow devotees. Speaking to ANI, she said, 'We are really happy that today we will take darshan of Lord Jagannath. This is our first time here. I feel completely happy. It is a dream come true to take darshan and share our devotion with the others here.' A devotee from Bangladesh said the festival is a special opportunity to revive their love for Lord Krishna by taking part in the rituals and pulling the sacred chariots, '...This is a chance to revive our love for Lord Krishna by attending this festival and pulling the chariots.' A sea of devotees gathered outside the Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri as the grand annual Rath Yatra festival began today. Meanwhile, in West Bengal, the first-ever Rath Yatra at the recently inaugurated Jagannath Temple in Digha is also set to begin. The procession will follow a one-kilometre route, with chariots modelled on those in Puri. ISKCON Kolkata Vice President Radharamn Das said the festival is inspired by the Puri Rath Yatra and added that West Bengal Chief Minister will join the event at 2 pm. Speaking to ANI, Radharamn Das said, 'Digha Jagannath Yatra is inspired by Puri Rath Yatra. Here too, the chariots of the deities have been made similar to those in Puri. In a few moments, the Lord will come to his chariot, and the Rath Yatra will begin. The Chief Minister will come here at 2 pm.' While at ISCKON Kolkata, Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balabhadra, and their sister Goddess Subhadra are being taken to their chariots for the Rath Yatra. (ANI)
Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Art and spirituality: Kolkata gears up for ISKCON Rathayatra festivities from today
Kolkata is gearing up for the 54th Annual Rathayatra organized by ISKCON Kolkata, set to begin on June 25. The celebration carries the theme of 'Let Peace Prevail' . This year, Lord Jagannath's chariot will roll on newly fitted tyres originally designed for Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft, replacing the Boeing 747 tyres that had been used since 1977. The nine-day festival kicks off with a grand mela at the Brigade Parade Ground on June 25, ahead of the main chariot procession on June 27. The mela will continue till July 4 and offer free khichdi prasadam to devotees daily from 3:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Cultural performances by acclaimed artists, including Dona Ganguly's dance troupe and Padma Shri awardees, will light up the evenings with dance, drama, kirtans, and spiritual talks. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to visit the mela on July 3 to offer aarti and join in prayers for peace and prosperity. The main Rathayatra procession will take place on Friday, June 27, beginning at 1 pm from the ISKCON Temple at 3C Albert Road. The chariots will travel through Hungerford Street, A.J.C. Bose Road, Sarat Bose Road, Hazra Road, S.P.M. Road, A.T.M. Road, Chowringhee Road, Exide Crossing, J.L. Nehru Road, and finally reach the Brigade Parade Ground. The return journey, or Ultarathayatra, will be held on Saturday, July 5, starting from Outram Road near Park Street Metro and concluding at the ISKCON Temple . The chariots are a feat of engineering. Lord Jagannath's Ratha is 38-ft tall with a collapsible canopy for easy navigation through Kolkata's roads. It now features tyres used in India's frontline Sukhoi-30 fighter jets. Subhadra Devi's chariot, the smallest, is also collapsible with iron wheels, while Lord Baladev's Ratha stands 36 feet tall with four large iron wheels, showcasing strength and grace. Adding to the spectacle, artists will decorate the route with vibrant street art using organic gulal. Kirtaniyas from across the world, accompanied by dozens of mridangas and kartals, will lead soul-stirring kirtans. Children's tableaux and prasadam buses will enrich the festive experience, which draws over two million participants annually—making it the second-largest Rathayatra after Puri. 'The festival highlights that in a world often consumed by conflict, unity and devotion can foster peace, as seen when devotees from Russia and Ukraine danced together before Lord Jagannath's chariot in Kolkata. last year. This celebration, inspired by Srila Prabhupada's vision, calls for spiritual awakening and global unity,' said Radharaman Das, Vice President ISKCON Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics. With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences. Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
India Today
03-06-2025
- General
- India Today
ISKCON fits Sukhoi fighter jet tyres to Lord Jagannath's chariot in Kolkata
This year's Rath Yatra in Kolkata is set to be a remarkable one as Lord Jagannath's chariot will roll on tyres originally designed for the Sukhoi fighter jet — notably the ones used in India's successful Operation Kolkata has spearheaded the initiative to replace the old tyres of Lord Jagannath's tyres which were first fitted in 1977 and sourced from a Boeing aircraft. With the original manufacturer, Dunlop ceasing operations years ago, the search for suitable replacements were on for the past few had been using second-hand aircraft tyres for many years,' said Radharaman Das, Vice President of ISKCON Kolkata. 'After thorough research, we found that the tyres of Sukhoi fighter jet matched the size and specifications of the old Boeing ones.' In 2024, tyre manufacturer MRF assessed the requirements and delivered the new tyres in early 2025. A 24-kilometre trial was carried out to ensure the tyres could withstand the weight of the chariot and move smoothly through Kolkata's added, 'It is a coincidence that the tyres came from Sukhoi jets that participated in Operation Sindoor, a significant achievement for Indian defence.'While the change is a technical enhancement, it also carries symbolic significance. Das drew parallels with the Mahabharata, noting that Lord Krishna attempted to prevent war between the Kauravas and Pandavas. When diplomacy failed, the Pandavas emerged victorious, reinforcing a message of peace backed by year's Rath Yatra conveys a dual message — of devotion and determination. It reflects Sanatani values and India's readiness to rise against adversity,' said Das, hinting at current tensions with Lord Jagannath's chariot now mounted on tyres built for a combat aircraft, this year's procession is set to combine tradition with a powerful reminder of cultural resilience and national Watch
NDTV
01-06-2025
- Automotive
- NDTV
After Priest's 20-Year Search, Sukhoi Tires To Be Used On Jagannath Chariot
Kolkata: Lord Jagannath's chariot will have a spring in its steps this summer when it rolls out on Kolkata streets for the Rath Yatra on June 27. After a 20-year search, the Rath Yatra's organiser, ISKCON Kolkata, has found new tires for the massive chariot. The old tires, sourced from a Boeing 747 jumbo jet, have been replaced by tires used on Sukhoi fighter planes and manufactured by MRF. Radharamn Das, vice president and spokesperson for ISCKON Kolkata, shared the fascinating story of finding the best fit for the Lord's chariot. The Rath Yatra in Kolkata started in 1972 with a small chariot housing the three deities taken out through the city's streets. Five years later, a member of ISCKON donated three new chariots for Lord Jagannath and his siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra. Lord Jagannath's chariot was fitted with second-hand tires from a Boeing Jet. Over the years, the tires suffered wear and tear and were repaired before every Rath Yatra. In 2005, however, Mr Das noticed they needed to be changed. This started his 20-year search for new tires for the Lord's chariot. A key challenge for arranging the tires was to assess the weight they would need to bear. "Finding a weighing scale for a massive chariot was a huge task. We eventually managed to weigh it and it came to about nine tonnes. Factoring in the weight of devotees on the chariot during the Yatra, we realised that the tires would need to support a weight of about 16 tonnes," he said. "We first spoke to Dunlop, but they had stopped manufacturing these tires. After extensive research, we found Sukhoi tires to be the best match. We first tried to contact MRF in 2018, but could not get through. Eventually, they got back six years later. In December 2024, they sent a team, we worked out a price and they delivered the tires a month back," Mr Das told NDTV. He shared how MRF authorities were surprised when ISKCON Kolkata first told them their requirement. "We were told that the only other client for these tires is the Indian Air Force," Mr Das quipped. MRF assured them that their tires have an adequate weight-bearing capacity. The four tires cost a total of Rs 1.80 lakh. After the tires were delivered and fitted, a 24-km dry run was organised, and all was found to be well.
India Today
01-06-2025
- Automotive
- India Today
Jugaad on wheels: Sukhoi jet tyres power Lord Jagannath's chariot in Kolkata
In a prime example of Indian 'jugaad' culture on display, Lord Jagannath's chariot in Kolkata is set to get a new pair of wheels after 48 years -- a brand-new set of tyres from Russia's Sukhoi fighter jet, which has a take-off run speed of up to 280 a familiar word in India, translates to making do with what you have. After encountering steering issues last year, the organiser ISKCON sprang into action to get new wheels for the deity's chariot, which it has been seeking for the past 15 Boeing tyres -- ones being used to power to chariots for so long -- have become difficult to procure, the organisers approached Sukhoi instead, as their diameter closely matches that of the Boeing tyres. ISKCON Kolkata spokesperson Radharaman Das admitted that their demand for new wheels took the company that manufactures tyres for Sukhoi fighter jets by asked for a quotation, the manufacturer wondered why anyone would request Sukhoi tyres and for what purpose. After explaining their need, ISCKON invited the manufacturers to come and inspect the chariot. Only then were they able to secure four Sukhoi tyres for the the tyres are being installed as Kolkata will witness Lord Jagannath's chariot wheels powered by tyres made for Sukhoi fighter to some reports, the chariot will move slowly and ceremoniously at a speed of 1.4 kmph.
