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Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Kolkata tourists help Digha earn Rs 100 crore during first Rath Yatra Season, boosting local economy
KOLKATA/DIGHA: The first season of Rath Yatra in Digha has yielded a net cash inflow of Rs 100 crore for the coastal town, a final count by various trade bodies and the Jagannath temple management has revealed. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The business boost has been felt across sectors — hotel and hospitality, transport and local commerce — and stakeholders say the temple is paving the way for a churn in Digha's economy. They expect the annual festival to be a major driver of growth. The temple itself received about Rs 17 lakh as pranami during the two-week festival, which will be used for 'maintenance and further development work', said Radharaman Das, a trustee of the Digha Jagannath Dham and vice-president of Iskcon Kolkata. According to his estimate, over 12 lakh devotees visited Digha for Rath Yatra. Local businesses say the chariot festival turned the post-summer vacation period into another 'peak tourist season'. 'We get maximum tourists during summer and winter vacations when schools and colleges are closed. The Rath Yatra came just after the summer vacation and we saw a steady inflow of new groups of tourists from the last week of June to the first week of this month. For us, the festival turned out to be a source of additional revenue during a period that was considered off-season till last year,' said Ashok Samanta, president of New Digha Saikatshree Market Traders' Association. The 1,100-odd stalls on Saikat Sarani along the beach selling local merchandise together earned an estimated of Rs 5 crore, he said. Of the Rs 100-crore revenue that Rath Yatra generated, a significant portion went to the hotel and hospitality industry and allied sectors. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now There are about 850 hotels with more than 25,000 rooms in the seaside town and daily tariffs range from Rs 1,000 for a non-AC room to about Rs 4,000 for a premium AC one. Bipradas Chatterjee, joint Secretary of Digha Sankarpur Hoteliers Association told TOI that during the Rath Yatra season, on average, 12 rooms per hotel were rented out for anything between Rs 2,000 and Rs 4,000 per room. 'Based on this, the income from hotel room rentals in Digha over the past 10 days stands at around Rs 30 crore. The average hotel bookings per day stood at around 22,000,' said Chatterjee. Besides, there were about 10,000 flying tourists who came in for a few hours each day and returned by night. Somnath Ghosh, an official in charge of the Digha bus depot, said revenue from buses stood at about Rs 50 crore during the festival. 'Tourists came from different parts of the state, especially Kolkata. Besides, some tourists reserved buses. Each reserved bus fetched us Rs 35,000 per day,' he added. According to restaurant owners in the town, transactions worth nearly Rs 15 crore took place over the past 10 days for snacks and meals. The Rail Coach Restaurant, a train compartment turned into an AC restaurant adjacent to Digha railway station was a top draw for tourists. Biplab Senapati, who runs this restaurant, said, 'The crowd started pouring in about two days before Rath and their number swelled gradually over the next 10 days. Our daily transactions surged and we had to roped in 10 additional workers to attend to customers.' Murtaza Shah, a resident of Jatimati village near Digha's helipad ground, who has been selling conch and shell products for over three decades, says the new temple has come as a blessing and will set them off on the road to prosperity. 'Digha saw a lot of development in the past five years and now the Jagannath temple is drawing devotees throughout the week,' he said.
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.
News18
01-06-2025
- Business
- News18
From Fighter Jets To Divine Wheels: Kolkata's Jagannath Chariot Gets Sukhoi Tyres
Last Updated: Kolkata's Lord Jagannath chariot gets new wheels from Russia's Sukhoi fighter jet after 48 years. ISKCON faced steering issues and couldn't procure Boeing tyres. In a quintessential display of Indian 'jugaad' ingenuity, Kolkata's Lord Jagannath's chariot is getting a fresh set of wheels after 48 years – remarkably, the new tyres are sourced from Russia's Sukhoi fighter jet, designed for speeds up to 280 kmph. The Indian concept of 'jugaad' – making do with available resources – is being applied to find a solution for Lord Jagannath's chariot. After experiencing steering problems last year, ISKCON quickly sought new wheels, a quest they've been on for 15 years. Since 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 confirmed that their demand for new wheels took the company that manufactures tyres for Sukhoi fighter jets by surprise. When contacted for a quote, the manufacturer was puzzled, asking why anyone would need Sukhoi tyres and what they'd be used for. After explaining their requirements, ISKCON invited the manufacturers to inspect the chariot, and only then were they able to procure four Sukhoi tyres for the Rath. The Sukhoi fighter jet tyres are currently being fitted, and soon Kolkata will see Lord Jagannath's chariot rolling on wheels designed for high-speed jets. First Published: June 01, 2025, 11:36 IST
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Digha tourism soars as Jagannath Dham welcomes 2 million visitors in 15 days
Despite ongoing debates over its establishment, the newly inaugurated Jagannath Dham temple in Digha has quickly emerged as a major pilgrimage and tourist destination, drawing massive crowds and giving a strong boost to tourism in West Bengal. Within just 15 days of its pran pratistha (consecration), the temple has attracted an estimated two million visitors—60 to 70 percent of whom are from neighboring Odisha. 'The temple is a major attraction, and we are witnessing incredibly long queues. In just 15 days, approximately 20 lakh people have visited this sacred place,' said Radharaman Das, Vice President of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) to The Indian Express. Highlighting the unifying power of faith, he added, 'Interestingly, a significant portion of the devotees, between 60 to 70 percent, are from Odisha. The devotion to Lord Jagannath transcends any perceived conflict; all are united in their bhakti. The lines resemble those at Tirupati Balaji.' The temple's strategic location has also played a key role in its popularity. 'Pilgrims visiting the revered Chandreshwar Mahadev Jyotirlinga in Odisha are now conveniently extending their trip to Digha, enjoying the coastline and offering prayers at the new Jagannath Dham,' Das said. Temple trust members describe a vibrant spiritual atmosphere, with nightly kirtans (devotional singing) drawing hundreds of thousands. Many attribute the surge in footfall to the West Bengal government's tourism initiatives, which appear to be paying off despite the intense summer heat. However, the growing number of devotees has also raised concerns about crowd control, as acknowledged by a senior police official. Suprakash Giri, President of the Purba Medinipur Trinamool Youth Congress Committee and a temple trust member, views the temple's popularity as a win for Bengal's tourism. 'The narrative pushed by the Odisha government appears politically motivated. On the ground, we are witnessing a remarkable influx of visitors from Odisha. This development is a tremendous boost for tourism in Bengal,' he said. 'Earlier, visitors typically stayed in Digha for two days; now, bookings are extending to four days or more. A temple of this scale, spanning acres, hasn't been built in recent decades. We are currently facilitating darshan (viewing of the deity), and expect even larger crowds once prasad (sacred food) offerings are allowed.' However, the temple has also sparked controversy. Religious leaders, scholars, and the Odisha government have strongly objected to the use of the term 'Dham,' traditionally reserved for Puri, arguing that applying it to another temple could mislead devotees. Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan has even threatened legal action against West Bengal over the naming. Initially, there were allegations from Odisha that sacred neem wood—used in the idols at Puri during the Nabakalebara ritual—was illicitly sourced for the Digha idols. These claims were later refuted, but they added fuel to an already sensitive issue. Some in Odisha have accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of using the temple project as a political tool to appeal to Hindu voters. In response, Banerjee accused Odisha of 'jealousy' and claimed that Bengalis were being unfairly targeted in BJP-ruled states. 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
