The chariot of Lord Sri Baldevjew in Keonjhar has earned the Guinness World Records title as the largest Ratha Yatra chariot.
“The largest Ratha Yatra chariot is 22 m (72 ft) x 14 m (45 ft) x 14 m (45 ft) and was achieved by The Executive Officer, Debottar, Keonjhar (India), in Keonjhar, India, on 2 August 2019,” read the certificate issued by the Guinness World Records.
It is pertinent to mention that the Sri Baldevjew chariot of Keonjhar has already been proclaimed the tallest wooden chariot by the India Book of Records, Asia Pacific Records, Global Records, and Wonder Book of Records.
This mega chariot at Keonjhar, has 16 wheels, 8 axels, 7 floors at different heights, and 15 feet long Dhaja Bata. Keonjhar celebrates Ratha Yatra every year by pulling the chariot of Sri Baldevjew on the Bada Danda.
The chariot of Lord Jagannath in Keonjhar, Odisha, has been recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest Ratha Yatra chariot. This monumental chariot measures 22 meters (72 feet) in height and 14 meters (45 feet) in both length and width. The record was officially acknowledged on August 2, 2019.
Constructed annually as part of a tradition spanning over 300 years, the chariot is rebuilt each year for the Ratha Yatra festival, a significant event in Hindu culture. The construction process involves nearly 100 days of meticulous work and costs approximately 10 million INR.
The recognition of Keonjhar’s chariot has garnered attention and sparked discussions among devotees and temple authorities. Notably, some members of the Puri Jagannath Temple community have expressed concerns over this acknowledgment, emphasizing the historical and cultural significance of their own chariots used during the Ratha Yatra in Puri.
