Chariot work for Rath Yatra starts

Bhubaneswar: The construction of chariots for Rath Yatra, scheduled to be held on July 1, started on the occasion of Akshaya Trutiya in Puri on Tuesday.
The auspicious day also marked the start of the 42-day Chandan Yatra of the Jagannath Temple.
Chandan Yatra and Rath Yatra — two vital festivals of the shrine— were held amid complete ban on the participation of devotees due to the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. With the Covid situation under control now, the administration has allowed devotees to take part in Chandan Yatra. The devotees will be allowed to participate in Rath Yatra after a gap of two years if the Covid situation continues to remain under control.
At least 742 pieces of wooden logs of different species will be used for the construction of Jagannath’s 45.6 ft-high chariot, 731 logs for Balabhadra’s 45 ft-high chariot and 711 logs for Subhadra’s 44.6 ft-high chariot.
Around 200 persons, including carpenters, Bhoi servitors, blacksmiths, woodcutters, tailors and artists have been engaged in the making of the three chariots.
Chandan Yatra would be observed for 42 days in two parts — Bahara (outer) Chandan and Bhitara (inner) Chandan, each spanning for 21 days. On the first 21 days, the representative idols of the main deities of the Jagannath temple — Madanmohan, Rama, Krishna, Laxmi and Saraswati would be taken in a procession from the Jagannath Temple to the Narendra tank to enjoy water sports in the summer evenings.
Five Shivas known as Pancha Pandavas, namely Lokanath, Yameswar, Markandaya, Kapal Mochan and Nilakantha would also accompany Madanmohan to Narendra tank. Madanmohan, Laxmi and Saraswati would be placed in one boat and Rama, Krishna and the Pancha Pandavas in another boat. The deities would enjoy an evening cruise in the pond accompanied by music and dance.
The last 21 days of Chandan Yatra would be observed inside the Jagannath Temple during which the servitors will perform some special rituals. In 2020, the first 21 days of the Chandan Yatra could not be performed in the Narendra Pokhari owing to Covid outbreak.
Bhubaneswar: The construction of chariots for Rath Yatra, scheduled to be held on July 1, started on the occasion of Akshaya Trutiya in Puri on Tuesday.
The auspicious day also marked the start of the 42-day Chandan Yatra of the Jagannath Temple.
Chandan Yatra and Rath Yatra — two vital festivals of the shrine— were held amid complete ban on the participation of devotees due to the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. With the Covid situation under control now, the administration has allowed devotees to take part in Chandan Yatra. The devotees will be allowed to participate in Rath Yatra after a gap of two years if the Covid situation continues to remain under control.
At least 742 pieces of wooden logs of different species will be used for the construction of Jagannath’s 45.6 ft-high chariot, 731 logs for Balabhadra’s 45 ft-high chariot and 711 logs for Subhadra’s 44.6 ft-high chariot.
Around 200 persons, including carpenters, Bhoi servitors, blacksmiths, woodcutters, tailors and artists have been engaged in the making of the three chariots.
Chandan Yatra would be observed for 42 days in two parts — Bahara (outer) Chandan and Bhitara (inner) Chandan, each spanning for 21 days. On the first 21 days, the representative idols of the main deities of the Jagannath temple — Madanmohan, Rama, Krishna, Laxmi and Saraswati would be taken in a procession from the Jagannath Temple to the Narendra tank to enjoy water sports in the summer evenings.
Five Shivas known as Pancha Pandavas, namely Lokanath, Yameswar, Markandaya, Kapal Mochan and Nilakantha would also accompany Madanmohan to Narendra tank. Madanmohan, Laxmi and Saraswati would be placed in one boat and Rama, Krishna and the Pancha Pandavas in another boat. The deities would enjoy an evening cruise in the pond accompanied by music and dance.
The last 21 days of Chandan Yatra would be observed inside the Jagannath Temple during which the servitors will perform some special rituals. In 2020, the first 21 days of the Chandan Yatra could not be performed in the Narendra Pokhari owing to Covid outbreak.