Palakkad: The annual chariot festival of Kalpathi this year will see some mechanization of its most sacred ritual.
Proclainers — those earthmoving machines synonymous with JCB — will join an elephant to push the chariot of Lord Vishwanatha Swamy and Goddess Visalakshi that will now roll on cast-iron wheels.
Traditionally, two elephants join the procession in the centuries old Kalpathi Ratholsavam. When the devotees pull the chariot from the front, the elephants push it from the back. Restrictions on parading elephants at festivals has made the organizers this year to consider using the machines.
This year, only one elephant will be used at the Ratholsavam. It will be brought from Kottayam.
The temple committee has informed the district authorities about employing machines alongside the elephant on the second day of the festival.
Machines are already used for chariot festivals in Tamil Nadu. The Ratholsavam in Kalpathi follows a pattern similar to that in Tamil Nadu.
The Lord’s chariot previously had wooden wheels. After it was fitted with the new iron wheels, a test run was recently carried out successfully.
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