Latest news with #IskconRathYatra
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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.
India.com
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Ratha Yatra
Videos Ratha Yatra | Kolkata Iskcon | এবার কলকাতার ইসকনের রথযাত্রায় সুখোই বিমানের চাকা! | Zee 24 Ghanta Ratha Yatra | Kolkata Iskcon: Sukhoi Aircraft Wheel Becomes Highlight of This Year's Iskcon Rath Yatra! Ratha Yatra | Kolkata Iskcon: Sukhoi Aircraft Wheel Becomes Highlight of This Year's Iskcon Rath Yatra! | Updated: Jun 25, 2025, 08:00 PM IST Advertisement Ratha Yatra | Kolkata Iskcon: Sukhoi Aircraft Wheel Becomes Highlight of This Year's Iskcon Rath Yatra!
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Lord Jagannath's Kolkata chariot to glide on Sukhoi tyres
KOLKATA: Lord Jagannath's chariot at Iskcon Rath Yatra in Kolkata this year will roll at a gentle pace of 1.4kmph on brand new tyres designed for a Russian Sukhoi fighter jet whose take-off run reaches a speed of 280kmph. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The new tyres were necessitated after the chariot encountered a steering snag last year. Acquisition of the Sukhoi tyres marks the culmination of a nearly two-decade quest for fresh tyres for the chariot. The ageing tyres, in use for over half a century, were from a Boeing B-747. Sourcing the "jumbo jet" tyres became a challenge after the aircraft was phased out. The Sukhoi's 4-ft diameter tyres were found to be the closest match to the jumbo jet tyres, which had the same 4-ft diameter and weighed 110kg each. While the B-747 tyres were manufactured by Dunlop, the Sukhoi tyres are manufactured by MRF, which supplies main wheel and nose wheel tyres for the Sukhoi Su-30MKI jets in India. These tyres undergo rigorous testing, including ground speed tests and load-capacity assessments. "When I contacted MRF requesting Sukhoi tyres for the chariot, they didn't believe us at first," said Radharamn Das, vice-president of Iskcon Kolkata. "They even sent senior officials to Kolkata to inspect the chariots. When they saw that the chariots were running on Boeing 747 jumbo jet tyres for the past 48 years and we explained that Sukhoi tyres were the closest match in size and durability, they agreed to sell them to us. " The new Sukhoi tyres will improve the chariot's manoeuvrability, safety and overall stability, especially on Kolkata's roads, many of which have tram tracks. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now They will also reduce strain of pulling on devotees and minimise the chances of technical failures during the Yatra starting June 27. The tyre-replacement work is currently underway and is expected to be completed by the second week of June, just ahead of Rath Yatra. The key challenge has been to ensure that the new wheels are safely and properly fitted without altering the traditional structure. "Minor structural modifications were needed, including adjustments to the wheel drums, base frame, and axle fittings to fit the Sukhoi tyres. However, the traditional wooden and iron superstructure of the chariot remains fully preserved," said Iskcon's Das. The chariot on which Lord Balaram or Baladev rides already sports new iron wheels.
