Rath Yatra prep: Jagannath Temple priests consecrate logs for chariot construction
Puri: The preparation for chariot construction for this year’s Rath Yatra in the holy city here began on the occasion of Sripanchami today.
Brahmin priests of Jagannath Temple consecrated three logs for chariot construction in front of the office of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) here by performing the traditional rituals.
The priests sanctified the logs with ‘Panchamruta’ before performing other rituals, said an official of the SJTA.
“The priests consecrated three logs for construction of Nandighosa chariot of Lord Jagannath, Taladhwaja chariot of Lord Balabhadra and Darpadalana chariot of Devi Subhadra for this year’s Rath Yatra,” he added.
Senior officials of the temple administration, servitors of the 12th century shrine and hundreds of devotees were present on the occasion.
The Maharana servitors (carpenters) of Srimandir require 865 pieces of wood for construction of the three chariots. However, the temple administration has a stock of 118 pieces of wood from last year’s Rath Yatra, sources said.
The SJTA had asked the officials of Nayagarh and Dashapalla forest divisions to supply 747 pieces of wood for this year’s Rath Yatra. The Forest department has so far sent 104 pieces of wood to the shrine, sources added.
“Sawing of the logs will commence on the occasion of Ram Navami. The carpenters will begin chariot construction on the occasion of Akshaya Trutiya,” said the official.
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