In a remarkable display of Indian jugaad — the art of ingenious improvisation — ISKCON Kolkata has sourced Sukhoi fighter jet tyres to replace the aging wheels of Lord Jagannath’s chariot, marking the first such upgrade in 48 years.
The need for replacement became urgent after steering issues emerged during last year’s Rath Yatra. For over a decade, the organisers had been searching for suitable tyres, which were originally Boeing aircraft tyres, now difficult to procure due to supply issues.
Enter the Sukhoi jet solution.
When ISKCON approached the Russian Sukhoi tyre manufacturer, their request initially baffled the company — after all, fighter jet tyres, designed for take-off speeds of up to 280 kmph, don’t usually end up on religious chariots that move at a ceremonial crawl of 1.4 kmph.
But upon inspecting the chariot and understanding its religious significance and technical requirements, the manufacturer agreed. The Sukhoi tyres were chosen for their similar diameter and durability, making them the best match available.
ISKCON spokesperson Radharaman Das called it a proud instance of Indian jugaad, where tradition meets modern innovation in a way that’s both practical and symbolic.
With the newly installed Sukhoi tyres, Lord Jagannath’s chariot in Kolkata is now not only spiritually significant but also uniquely engineered — rolling slowly through the streets with the strength and legacy of Russian aerospace technology beneath it.
