In a gesture symbolizing India's rich spiritual and cultural heritage, the Indian Parliament will soon be adorned with sacred wheels from the chariots of Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has accepted a proposal from the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to install the chariot wheels within the Parliament premises.

The proposal, put forth by SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee during Om Birla's visit to the Jagannath Temple in Puri, was met with enthusiasm. Padhee expressed his gratitude to Om Birla for approving the proposal on behalf of the temple administration and devotees. He conveyed his appreciation via social media platform X.

During his visit to the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Om Birla, accompanied by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, offered prayers for the peace, prosperity, and well-being of the nation and the world. He described the experience as deeply spiritual and joyful. He was also accompanied by Puri MP Sambit Patra, Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, Panchayati Raj Minister Rabinarayan Nayak, and Rajya Sabha MP Subhashish Khuntia.

The wheels destined for the Parliament will be from the chariots of Lord Jagannath (Nandighosh), Devi Subhadra (Darpadalan), and Lord Balabhadra (Taladwaja). These chariots are constructed annually using neem wood and feature intricate carvings. The Nandighosh chariot of Lord Jagannath has 18 wheels, while Balabhadra's has 16. After the annual Rath Yatra, the chariots are dismantled, and the wood is stored and sometimes auctioned.

The installation of the Rath Yatra wheels in Parliament is seen as a powerful representation of India's civilizational values, spiritual continuity, and devotion to cultural preservation. This will be the second religious and cultural installation in the new Parliament building, following the Sengol, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi placed near the Speaker's chair in May 2023.

The Rath Yatra, a prominent Hindu festival rooted in Odisha's spiritual heritage, celebrates the annual journey of Lord Jagannath and his siblings from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple in Puri. The festival symbolizes the deities stepping out to meet their devotees, transcending social and religious barriers. The Gajapati King of Puri performs the 'Chhera Panhara' ritual, sweeping the chariots, which signifies the dissolution of worldly rank in the presence of divinity. Hundreds of thousands of devotees participate in pulling the chariots, believing it will remove sins and bestow spiritual blessings.

This initiative is expected to elevate Odisha's visibility on the national stage and serve as an emblem of the state's timeless devotion and craftsmanship. The inclusion of the sacred wheels in the Parliament complex is a testament to India's commitment to preserving and celebrating its diverse cultural traditions.