Odisha: Baladevjew’s Nandighosha in Keonjhar tallest chariot as per Guinness book of world records
Keonjhar: The Chariot of Lord Baladevjew of Keonjhar in Odisha is said to be the tallest chariot in the world as the same has been recognised this status by the Guinness Book of World Records. Height of this chariot is 72 feet and width is 45 feet while 16 wheels are attached to it.
Odisha is the land of Lord Shree Jagannath. We can find temples of Lord Jagannath in most of the villages, towns and cities across the State. Of course, the rituals practiced in these temples are sometimes a little bit different while at many places it is same. Especially, some difference is seen in the temples made by the Royal families. Such a rare temple is the Baladevjew temple in Keonjhar. The Nandighosha chariot of this temple has earned recognition as the tallest chariot. It has made into the Guinness Book of World Records for being the tallest chariot.
Royal administration came into force in Keonjhargarh in the year 1128. The first king here was Jyoti Bhanja. Later during the reign of Laxminarayan Bhanja the concept of worshipping Lord Baladevjew and His temple originated. A 90-hand tall temple was built in between 1661 to 1671 here. The temple location was mentioned in the Khata No. 18 of the Nijigarh mouza on a patch of land spreading over 18 acres. As per researchers Rath Yatra was started here the following year.
Like the temple, the Chariot of Lord Baladevjew in Keonjhar also has some uniqueness. As per the ritual of the holy Rath Yatra, the chariot here is made as per the prescribed traditions. The same has been maintained till date.
Akin to Puri, in Keonjhar also, the construction of the chariot begins from Akshay Trutiya. Lord Balabhadra is the prime God of Keonjhar. Yet, the name of his chariot is Nandighosha, not Taladhwaja, because it is Lord Jagannath for whom the Rath Yatra is organised. Lord Jagannath’s siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra only visit aunt’s house only for ‘Lila Darshan’. Because the Rath Yatra of Keonjhar is of Lord Jagannath, His chariot has been named as Nandighosha.
The chariot has received the status of becoming world’s tallest chariot by the Guinness Book of World Records. Before this world record, the chariot had made it into other Record Books such as Indian National Records, India Book of Records, Asia Pacific Record, Global Record, and Wonder Book of Records.
Sujit Pattanayak, a local resident of Keonjhar along with some others had applied to the Sub Collector office in 2018 to announce Nandighosha Ratha as the tallest chariot in different forums. Later, the chariot got tallest status from Global Records, Asia Records, and Indian National Records in 2018 and in 2019 it got the tallest chariot status from the Guinness Book of World Records.
Ms Kalinga