JHARSUGUDA: An engineer of Brajrajnagar plays a crucial role in ensuring a mishap-free Rath Yatra in Puri. Every year, Aswini Mishra, who works at MCL’s Lajkura Open Cast Project, develops the brake system that is installed in the three majestic chariots of the divine Trinity for Rath Yatra in Puri.Mishra decided to come up with the ‘brake system’ when he read about accidental death of a devotee under the wheels of one of the chariots in mid-2000.
A decade back, he approached the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to come up with the ‘brake system.’ He presented his brake model before the SJTA, which gave its approval. Mishra roped in three of his workers - Prashanta Benia, Trilochan Badhai and Dhaniram Bagh - and together, they constructed the brakes that were installed in the chariots the same year. This brake system continues to be in use.
A total of 42 wheels are required for the three chariots, with 16 wheels for Nandighosha, 14 for Taladhwaja and 12 for Debadalana. An wooden log in front of the wheels serves as the manually operated brake in the chariot, which is pulled by lakhs of devotees. Around 17 feet high and 16-inch wide Sal logs have been used as brakes in each of the three chariots. Mishra and the three others have taken the system to Puri for installation in the chariots ahead of the Rath Yatra on July 14.
He said the brake is made from three pieces of Sal wood which are fitted with thick nylon rubber belt using specially designed iron nails. The wooden log is then fitted with a chain and pulley that form the integral part of the brakes. When the chariots are required to be stopped, the Bhoi sevayats of the Puri temple, who stand atop the structures, drop the wooden logs from the chariots using the chain and pulley. The wood falls in front of the wheel and it gets jammed with the nylon rubber acting as brake shoes very similar to vehicles. Prior to 2008, the wooden logs were not lined with rubber.