Historic Wheels from Puri's Ratha Yatra to be Displayed at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Display of Ratha Yatra Wheels at Rashtrapati Bhavan

(With editorial improvements)

Bhubaneswar, August 4 – The wheels of all three chariots used in the annual Ratha Yatra of Puri will be showcased at Rashtrapati Bhavan, as confirmed by an official on Tuesday. Arvind Padhy, the chief administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), shared that he met with President Droupadi Murmu at Lok Bhawan in Bhubaneswar to present this proposal.

In a statement, he mentioned, “The President has agreed to display the wheels of the three chariots at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This is a moment of pride for all of us.” Officials indicated that the wheels of Lord Jagannath's ‘Nandighosh’, Lord Balabhadra's ‘Taladhwaj’, and Devi Subhadra's ‘Darpadalana’ chariots will be sent to New Delhi and exhibited as a permanent symbol of Odisha's cultural and spiritual heritage. They noted that the three chariots used during the annual Ratha Yatra are dismantled after the festival each year.

While a portion of the wood is utilized in the kitchen of the Jagannath Temple, significant parts of the chariots are auctioned among devotees. It was explained that new wood is employed annually for the construction of new chariots for the festival. This is not the first instance of Odisha's heritage being showcased within the premises of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Previously, on October 29, 2024, four replicas of the renowned Konark wheels made of sandstone were displayed at the cultural center of Rashtrapati Bhavan and Amrit Udyan, aimed at presenting India's rich cultural heritage to visitors.