On Friday, a man in Vadodara, Gujarat, took his own ‘Robotic Rath Yatra’ out on the streets to commemorate the 145th Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra, an annual chariot festival associated with the Hindu God. Jai Makwana described the one-of-a-kind show as a “amalgamation of science and traditions.”
Jai Makwana, in what has been described as a “robotic tribute” to Lord Jagannath, chanted devotional songs while fanning his chariot in a small procession.
True to its name, the modern chariot uses short-range wireless technology and operates on electromagnetic frequencies, eliminating the need for ropes to pull the cart.
“This robotic rath is operated via phone Bluetooth instead of the traditional rope,” Jai explained.
Three massive wooden chariots of Lord Jagannath, considered an incarnation of Vishnu according to Hindu Mythology, are pulled by devotees from Puri Bada Danda to Gundicha Temple in the temple town of Puri.
The first Rath Yatra after a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19 was marked by gongs, cymbals, and reverberating chants.
