PURI: The temple servitors, in charge of constructing the three massive chariots for the Trinity, are hopeful of completing the works before the scheduled time.
This year, the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra will be celebrated on June 25 when the deities will go to their aunt’s house riding the towering temple-shaped chariots - Nandighosha, Darpadalana and Taladhwaja.
The construction work of the three rathas begins on the auspicious Akshaya Tritiya day and gets completed within 44 days that is a day prior to the fete. The construction work begins after the temple priests hand over Ajnamallyas (order of the Lord) from Lord Jagannath to the Biswakarmas (chief carpenters).
The carpenters and their assistants work under three head carpenters for the three rathas - Nandighosh of Lord Jagannath, Taladhwaja of Lord Balabhadra and Darpadalan of Devi Subhadra. Amina Maharana, a senior member of the carpenter clan, shoulders the responsibility of supplying timber of the required size to the carpenters. Sutar Maharana and Tali Maharana, who belong to the lower order of the chief carpenter, too supervise the ongoing work at Ratha Khala. They are designated as Saree Bandha Biswakarmas, (royal permission holders).
While construction of frames of all the three chariots has been completed, the carpenters on Tuesday fixed painted ‘Dwara Bedhas’ on them.
“Every year, we construct Nandighosh rath (13.9 meters in height) of Lord Jagannath with 16 wheels, Taladhwaj (13.5 meters) of Lord Balabhadra with 14 wheels and Darpadalan Rath (12.9 meters) of Devi Subhadra with 12 wheels using total 872 pieces of timber of various tree species like Asan, Dhaura and Phasi, “said Bijay Kumar Mohapatra, one of the three head carpenters.
Specific types of timber logs are used to prepare the axle, wheel and the spokes besides other parts of the rathas. All the three rathas are fitted with unique shock absorber systems with manually operated front brakes.
‘‘For our service the then rulers had granted us the right to take balance timber as Khei (remuneration) which the temple administration has now stopped and is compensating in terms of money,” Mohapatra added.
Carpenters work for nearly 10 hours per day under the supervision of senior maharanas in the Ratha Khala.
Apart from the carpenters, roopakaras are now busy colouring the ‘Parsva Devatas’ and sculptures of ‘Sarathis’ and ‘Olata Suas’.
Around each of the chariots are nine ‘Parsva Devatas’, painted wooden images representing different deities on the chariots’ sides. Each of the chariots is attached to four wooden horses.
The temple ‘darjis’ (tailors) are stitching colourful clothes that would be draped around the chariots for the yatra.
Soon after construction of the chariots, they will be veered to the festival venue on June 24 midnight and parked in front of the temple main gate for consecration ceremony.
Biswakarmas on the job
Construction work of the three rathas began on the auspicious Akshaya Tritiya day and is slated to be completed in 44 days, a day prior to the Rath Yatra, scheduled on June 24. As many as 100 carpenters are involved in the work.
All the three rathas are fitted with unique shock absorber systems with manually operated front brakes
Apart from the carpenters, a number of roopakaras (sculptors and painters) display their skills by engraving and colouring the images of Parswadevatas (side deities) who guard the deities on all four sides of the rathas