Puri: The sacred construction of the three majestic chariots for Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra began here on Monday, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Trutiya, marking the start of preparations for the world-famous Rath Yatra scheduled for July 16.
Following traditional rituals, the Biswakarma Sevaks (hereditary carpenter servitors) performed the ceremonial first strike using a golden axe on logs designated for the chariots at the Ratha Khala (chariot yard). A ‘yagna’ was conducted earlier, and the ‘Agnya Mala’ — the divine garland from the deity permitting the work to begin — was received. Chief priest Biswambar Dash of Mukti Mandap led the ‘Banajag’ puja to formally inaugurate the construction process.
According to temple officials, the chariots will be assembled using specially selected timber supplied by the Forest Department. Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosh chariot will stand 45.6 feet tall and require 742 wooden logs, while Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja chariot will rise to 45 feet using 731 logs. Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalana chariot, at 44.6 feet, will be built with 711 logs. More than 200 skilled artisans, including carpenters, blacksmiths, woodcutters, tailors, and painters, will work on the construction and elaborate decoration of the chariots.
Simultaneously, the Puri Shree Jagannath Temple’s longest annual festival, the 42-day Chandan Yatra, also commenced on Akshaya Trutiya. The festival is divided into Bahara (outer) Chandana, which runs for the first 21 days, and Bhitara (inner) Chandana. During the Bahara phase, representative idols of the main deities along with the Pancha Pandava Shivalingas are taken in procession from the Singhadwara to the Narendra Tirtha tank. The deities are placed on beautifully decorated boats for evening cruises on the tank to provide relief from the summer heat.
Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik marked the occasion by creating a vibrant sand sculpture depicting the sibling deities on Puri beach. In a social media post, Pattnaik extended greetings with “Jai Jagannatha” and highlighted the significance of the day.
