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 July 18 when the deities will go to their aunt’s house riding the towering temple-shaped chariots - Nandighosha, Darpadalana and Taladhwaja.
Since this year Nabakalebara of the Trinity is being observed, the Biswakarmas are also constructing a new set of ‘Sarathis’, wooden horses, ‘Kalashas’, ‘Olata Suas’, 24 ‘Parsva Devatas’, besides ‘Sakhis’ for the three chariots. The old ones had been buried along with the old idols of the deities in Koilibaikuntha inside the Jagannath temple premises on June 16 after the ‘Brahma Parivartan’ ritual.
Around 100 traditional carpenters are working on the chariots under the guidance of senior Biswakarmas - Krushna Chandra Maharana, Bijay Mahapatra and Amina Maharana. While construction of frames of all the three chariots have been completed, the carpenters on Tuesday fixed painted ‘Dwara Bedhas’ on them. Construction of the chariots had started on the occasion of ‘Akshaya Tritiya’.
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 July 16 midnight and parked in front of the temple main gate for consecration ceremony.