Kolkata, 3 June (H.S.): In a unique innovation, this year’s Jagannath Rath Yatra organized by ISKCON Kolkata will see the chariot of Lord Jagannath equipped with tyres typically used in India’s Sukhoi fighter jets. This marks the first time such high-tech aviation components have been used in the centuries-old religious procession.

For the past 48 years, the chariot had been fitted with tyres from Boeing aircraft. However, with the manufacturing company Dunlop having shut down years ago, the existing tyres had begun to show technical issues over the last two decades. Seeking a more durable and readily available alternative, ISKCON Kolkata turned to tyres used in Sukhoi fighter jets.

“Since the Sukhoi tyres match the diameter of the older Boeing ones, we approached MRF, the manufacturer of these tyres,” said Radharaman Das, Vice-President of ISKCON Kolkata, speaking to Hindusthan Samachar.

In December 2024, MRF’s technical team visited Kolkata and examined the chariot’s structure. Following this inspection, the new tyres were successfully installed, and on May 31, the chariot underwent a successful 20-kilometre trial run in the city.

The transition required structural modifications to accommodate the heavier tyres. “By Lord Jagannath’s grace, the new tyres have been integrated successfully, and we are confident that the chariot will glide smoothly during the Rath Yatra on June 27 and the return journey on July 5,” Das added.

Each Sukhoi tyre can withstand up to 16 tonnes of weight, significantly enhancing the chariot's durability and performance. However, the chariots for Lord Balaram and Goddess Subhadra will continue using traditional iron wheels.

When asked if any other place in India or Asia had used fighter jet tyres in religious chariots, Das responded, “In 1977, we used Boeing tyres for the first time in Kolkata. As far as we know, this kind of application has not been done elsewhere in India or Asia.”

This groundbreaking update to the Rath Yatra tradition has sparked a wave of enthusiasm among devotees, blending age-old religious fervour with modern technological advancements.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh