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Historic Wheels of Puri Rath Yatra to be Installed at Rashtrapati Bhavan

In a significant cultural event, the wheels of the three chariots from the Puri Rath Yatra will be installed at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This initiative, approved by President Droupadi Murmu, aims to celebrate Odisha's rich spiritual heritage. The wheels will serve as a permanent symbol of the state's cultural legacy, following the tradition of dismantling the chariots post-festival. This installation continues the trend of honoring Odisha's heritage within the presidential premises, previously highlighted by the installation of Konark wheel replicas. Discover more about this proud moment for Odisha and its cultural significance.
By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 4, 2026, 13:18 IST

Installation of Rath Wheels at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Bhubaneswar, August 4 - The wheels of the three chariots used in the annual Puri Rath Yatra will be displayed 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 the installation of the wheels from all 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 established as a permanent symbol of Odisha's cultural and spiritual heritage. They also noted that the chariots used during the annual Rath 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 used annually for constructing the chariots for the festival. This is not the first instance of Odisha's heritage being honored within the premises of Rashtrapati Bhavan.


Previously, on October 29, 2024, four replicas of the renowned Konark wheels made of sandstone were installed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre and Amrit Udyan, showcasing India's rich cultural heritage to visitors.