Vadodara’s 12th ‘Robo Rath Yatra’ Bridges Tradition And Technology

Vadodara: While the grand Rath Yatras of Jagannath Puri and Ahmedabad draw nationwide attention, a unique celebration in Vadodara is quietly making its mark. The city hosted the 12th “Robo Rath Yatra,” a modern and imaginative take on the traditional festival, organized by Jay Makwana, a student from the Faculty of Arts at M.S. University.

Makwana, who began this initiative in 2014, was inspired to combine cultural heritage with technological innovation. What started as a small experiment with friends has now grown into an annual ritual held at his residence in the Nizampura area. The Robo Rath Yatra mirrors the traditional procession of Jagannath Puri, complete with three intricately crafted wooden chariots representing Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra.

However, the key difference lies in how these chariots move. Instead of being pulled by ropes, they are powered and guided remotely using Bluetooth-enabled controls. Each remote is symbolically named after one of the sacred ropes from the original Puri Rath Yatra, Vasuki, Swarnachuda, and Shankhachuda.

This year’s ceremony began with the customary pahind vidhi, a ritual sweeping of the path, conducted by three women, including Makwana’s 90-year-old grandmother. The atmosphere was charged with devotion as family, friends, and well-wishers gathered for bhajans and kirtans while the robotic chariots rolled forward in procession.

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