SJTA to Sell Rath Yatra Chariot Wheels to Devotees Under New SOP

Puri: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has announced that the sacred wooden wheels of the three chariots used in the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra will be available for sale to devotees this year.

To ensure a transparent and organized process, the SJTA has issued a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). As per the guidelines, other chariot components such as Prabha, Guja, and Asuari will also be sold. Interested devotees must submit their applications by November 10, along with a non-refundable fee of ₹1,000.

The prices of the chariot wheels have been fixed at ₹3 lakh for Lord Jagannath’s chariot, ₹2 lakh for Lord Balabhadra’s, and ₹1.5 lakh for Goddess Subhadra’s. Application forms are available at the SJTA Office in Puri.

Officials said the move aims to allow devotees to own a part of Jagannath heritage while ensuring the sacred materials from the dismantled chariots are preserved respectfully. Every year, new chariots are built for the Rath Yatra, and the previous ones are deconstructed afterward. This year’s policy marks the first formal and transparent system for distributing these spiritually significant relics.