Rath Yatra Timbers Consecrated

BY: SUN STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Jan 21, JAGANNATHA PURI, ORISSA — Debi Prasad Rajgur, the Royal Priest of Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasigha Deb on Wednesday performed a ceremonial puja of the timbers that will be used for construction of chariots for the forthcoming Rath Yatra. The puja was solemnised on the auspicious occasion of Goddess Saraswati Puja on Wednesday.

The nine-day annual sojourn of the presiding sibling Deities of Jagannath Temple will be observed on July 13 this year. The timbers were consecrated right in front of the Royal Palace, a stone's throw from Jagannath Temple.

The construction work of the three giant chariots for Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra will start on the occasion of Akshyaya Tritiyaon on May 16th.

According to sources, a total number of 862 pieces of logs, comprising different species like Phasi, Dhaura, Asan, Simili, Mmahi, and Sahaj will be used for the making the chariots. "A few days ago fifty pieces of Asana and Dhaura timbers reached here. The rest will reach very soon. The Khurda and Nayagarh forest divisions will provide the requisite number of logs," said Laxmidhar Pujapanda, the Jagannath Temple's Public Relations Officer (PRO).

"The traditional consecration of the timbers is conducted every year on Saraswati Puja," Pujapanda added.

The height of the Taladhwaja (of Lord Balabhadra) chariot will be 45 ft., Nandighos (of Lord Jagannath) chariot 45.6 ft., and Devidalan (of goddess Subhadra) chariot will be of 44.6 ft., sources said.

Nearly seventy-five carpenters will work day in and day out to complete the construction of the juggernauts. Besides, nearly 70 assistants (bhois), 10 blacksmiths, 22 painters and some traditional tailors will also be engaged in giving the finishing touch to the chariots. The construction of chariots is likely to be over just three days before the nine-day Rath Yatra.