Iskcon chariots set to get tractor steering system
Times of India | 11 July 2024
Kolkata: Drawing a lesson from the malfunctioning steering system in Jagannath’s rath that affected the Rath Yatra, left Iskcon officials embarrassed and devotees disappointed, the religious order has decided to change the steering system in Balaram’s chariot before Ultorath on Monday.
With mechanics confident of completing the task by midnight, work on replacing the steering system of Jagannath’s chariot carried on all of Wednesday.Iskcon will now purchase a new steering system used in tractor trailers to install in Balaram’s chariot whose wheels have undergone a makeover but the steering system is several decades old.
“Both the chariots of Jagannath and Balaram were made in 1978. Steering columns were sourced from large commercial vehicles that were in service at the time and have long gone out of production. Though we have changed the wheels of Balaram’s chariot this year and had planned to do the same in Jagannath’s chariot next year, we had not thought about revamping the steering system. After Sunday, when the steering in Jagannath’s chariot gave way, we have decided that the vintage steering system in Balaram’s chariot too needs replacement,” said Iskcon vice-president Radharamn Das.
The confidence in undertaking the major overhaul followed the successful modifications that mechanics carried out in Jagannath’s chariot on Wednesday to install the steering system that had been sourced from a scrap market in Chiria More. After Ultorath, Jagannath’s chariot will be taken to Rajarhat where the steering system and wheels will be changed. The wheel tyres will also be replaced from that of a passenger airliner to a fighter aircraft.
“On Thursday, we will dismantle the steering system of Balaram’s rath. The new steering should be in place by Friday. We will also test the steering system of Jagannath’s chariot that day and Balaram’s rath the next day,” Das added.