PURI: With the conclusion of the 21-day Chandan Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, the wheels of the chariots of the Trinity were also ceremonially fixed to the axles on Friday. Rath Yatra, marking the annual sojourn of the Trinity to Gundicha temple, is scheduled on June 20 this year.
All three axles (one axle for each chariot) got fitted with six wheels on the day. According to Bijay Mahapatra, the Biswakarma of Nandighosha Rath of Lord Jagannath, all the hubs of 42 wheels of three chariots were given shape and now spokes and rims fixed while three axles got fitted with wheels. “Everything is going on as per the schedule,” he added.
Hundreds of carpenters, blacksmiths, roopakaras, chitrakaras, tailors and bhoi servitors are working round the clock under the guidance of three Biswakarmas to complete the construction of the chariots in the ‘ratha khala’ (construction yard) located along the Badadanda in front of Srimandir office.
Construction of chariots sticks to a fixed schedule beginning Akshay Tritiya and gets completed in 55 days, a day prior to the commencement of the grand event, Mahapatra said. Sri Jagannath temple administration has made elaborate arrangements for the workers engaged in the construction of chariots. A work force of 205 people including carpenters and others engaged in chariot construction are served break fast, lunch and snacks daily.
This apart they are provided with clothings and personal kits. A medical team attends to their health issues in the Rath construction yard every day.
Water sports of the Lords
During the 21 days of the fete, Madanmohan, the representing idol of Lord Jagannath along with Bhu devi and Sridevi besides Panch mahadevas were being taken on decorated palanquins by servitors in ceremonial procession to Narendra pokhari (tank). They were given sandalwood and aromatic water bath and offered bhog. Thereafter deities were given a ride on swan-shaped Nanda and Bhadra, the two boats, which go round the huge Narendra tank.
A large number of devotees witnessed the ritual every day. On the concluding day on Friday, which is popularly known as Bhaunri, fire works began after the “rati chapa” was over. After observance of a complex set of rituals by priests and offering of Mandua bhog in the late evening the deities returned to their abodes in ceremonial procession. Adequate security arrangements were made along the route of the procession and around the Narendra pokhari.