Kendrapada: Days before the annual Rath Yatra, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bhubaneswar has identified structural deficiencies in the wooden chariot of the famed Baladevjew Temple and recommended a series of engineering interventions to ensure its safe movement during the festival on July 16.
The recommendations follow a detailed engineering assessment of the 67-foot-tall Brahma Taladhwaja chariot, which developed cracks in some of its wheels during last year’s Rath Yatra, causing it to tilt. Alarmed by the incident, the temple administration sought IIT-Bhubaneswar’s technical expertise to improve the chariot’s structural stability and operational safety.
The institute has proposed strengthening the braking mechanism by using sandbags, wooden stoppers and dry sand during braking and turning operations. It has also recommended reinforcing the connection between the chariot’s superstructure and its base, precision machining of wheel hubs and axles for better load transfer, modification of the rope anchorage system for improved load distribution, and enhancement of the wheel-axle lubrication system.
In addition to changes to the chariot, IIT-Bhubaneswar has advised the temple authorities to improve the geometry of the two-km Grand Road (Bada Danda) and upgrade the drainage system along the route to facilitate the safe movement of the massive wooden structure.
Assistant Professor Manas Ranjan Pattnayak of the School of Mechanical Sciences, IIT-Bhubaneswar, said the Baladevjew chariot is one of Odisha’s finest examples of living cultural heritage, embodying centuries-old indigenous knowledge of timber construction, traditional craftsmanship and structural engineering.
“The chariot, built every year by hereditary artisans, has never been comprehensively documented using modern engineering tools. We have carried out a detailed engineering assessment and proposed immediate stabilisation measures, a long-term conservation strategy and a consultancy plan for digital documentation to ensure its safe journey,” Pattnayak said.
Temple Executive Officer Balabhadra Patri said several recommendations made by IIT-Bhubaneswar have already been implemented ahead of this year’s Rath Yatra.
The annual Rath Yatra of the Baladevjew Temple is one of Odisha’s most prominent chariot festivals after Puri’s Jagannath Rath Yatra, drawing thousands of devotees to Kendrapada every year. The IIT-led interventions are expected to significantly enhance the safety and preservation of the centuries-old tradition while retaining its traditional design and construction practices.
