Bhubaneswar: Wheels from the famed Rath Yatra chariots of the Puri Jagannath Temple in Odisha are set to find a place at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The move has received approval from President Droupadi Murmu.
Officials said one wheel each will be taken from the three chariots—Jagannath’s Nandighosha, Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja, and Subhadra’s Darpadalan—and sent to the President’s residence for installation. The initiative is aimed at showcasing Odisha’s cultural and spiritual heritage at the national level.
Aravinda Padhee, Chief Administrator of the Jagannath Temple, said he met the President in person at Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar and placed the request. He added that the President agreed to the installation, calling it a proud moment for the people of Odisha.
The report noted that in 2024, stone wheel replicas from the UNESCO-listed Sun Temple in Odisha were installed at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Every year, new wooden chariots are built for the three deities for the Rath Yatra.
After the festival, the chariots are traditionally dismantled. Some wooden parts are allotted for use in the temple kitchen, while key components are auctioned for devotees, as per established practice.
