Puri: In a unique initiative, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri has announced that the wheels of the three sacred chariots used in the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra will be sold this year.
Issuing a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to streamline the process, the SJTA stated that, apart from the chariot wheels, other components such as Prabha, Guja, and Asuari will also be available for sale to devotees. Interested applicants must submit their forms by November 10, along with a non-refundable application fee of ₹1,000.
According to the SOP, the price of each wheel from Lord Jagannath’s chariot has been fixed at ₹3 lakh, while the wheel of Lord Balabhadra’s chariot will cost ₹2 lakh, and Devi Subhadra’s wheel will be priced at ₹1.5 lakh.
Application forms are available at the SJTA Office in Puri.
Officials said the initiative is intended to preserve the sanctity of the wooden chariot structures while offering devotees a rare opportunity to possess a part of Jagannath heritage imbued with religious and cultural significance.
Every year, new chariots are constructed from scratch for the Rath Yatra, and the previous year’s wooden components are dismantled after the festival. This year’s decision marks a formalized and transparent approach to distributing those sacred relics.
