Railways renders pivotal service during Rath Yatra at Puri

Puri, July 20: Indian Railways plays a vital role during the Rath Yatra at Puri by running special trains from different parts of the country. It also provides additional passenger amenities, extra ticket booking and reservation counters, passenger rest sheds and tourist complex for the rest of the devotees at the station and its circulating area. But, apart from this, Indian Railways has also been providing a very essential service in facilitating the smooth running of the three chariots on Badadanda.  Every year a team of East Coast Railway (ECoR) accompanies the chariots with equipment to assist in removing any obstacle from their forward path. A team of 40 devoted staff of the mechanical department of ECoR is tasked with this onus. Legend has it that in the early 1960s, one of the chariots got entangled with an electric pole resulting in damage to its axle. Senior officials became clueless and confused on what was to be done. Incidentally, a Railway officer was present to witness the car festival. He seriously thought about the problem and found an analogy with that of restoration during coach derailment. He suggested doing it by using screw jacks and offered help voluntarily from Railways.  It is since then that ECoR has been rendering the service every year. An experienced team of 40 staff from Railways actively participate to place the chariots side by side by lifting and shifting to its position using traversing jacks. All the jacks are placed at different places under the axle and operated simultaneously for lifting and shifting of the chariots. Around 30 of traversing screw jacks (12 for Nandighosha, 10 for Taladhwaja and 8 for Darpadalana) are used for the purpose. On the day of Rath Yatra, the team escorts the chariots during its journey from Shree Mandir to Shree Gundicha Temple covering 3 kms to attend any breakdown. On the 5th day of the ceremony (Hera Panchami), all the 3 chariots are reversed and placed at Nak-chana Dwar (exit gate of Shree Gundicha Temple) for the preparation of the return journey. On the day of Bahuda, the team escorts the chariots during its journey from Shree Gundicha Temple to Shree Mandir. On arrival at the Lions Gate, the 3 chariots are placed side by side in proper position for “Suna Besa”. Each chariot is shifted for 6 ft to 8 ft to position them properly. This is entirely done by this team from Railway led by a Senior Section Engineer of the mechanical department of the Puri Coaching Depot. This service is planned in a very meticulous manner. The wish of Lord Jagannath to step out from his Holy abode to see his devotees is nothing but his magnanimity. In this ocean of love and devotion that fills up in the souls of men and women, the contribution of the Railways is a small cog in the wheel.