Puri Rath Construction

The auspicious Ratha Yatra or the chariot festival is marked in June every year. The three deities travel on wooden towering temple shaped rathas which are newly made every year. The carpenters carrying out this noble work belong to the family that has the hereditary rights for this construction. There are no specific written instructions, instead, the method of work and knowledge is followed from generations after generations. These architectural marvels are made out of love and labour of 200 carpenters, blacksmiths, painters, and tailors with a deadline of 58 days. 



Nearly 4000 wooden logs are required of the construction of chariots and this is aided by the Odisha government's plantation program to replenish the forests. The delivery of the wooden logs are carried out by the Odisha government free of cost and they are transported in front of the Jagannath temple office on the occasion of Vasant Panchami that is Saraswati Puja in January or February. The logs are cut into the desired shapes and sizes in the sawmills on Ram Navami, that is, the birthday of Lord Rama in March or April. 

On the auspicious occasion of Akhyaya Tritiya in April or May, the chariot construction begins in front of the royal palace near Jagannath temple in Puri. The 42 days sandalwood festival, that is, Chandan Yatra begins in Jagannath temple. The priests in their bright attire carry out the holy fire ritual and carry the garlands to the chief carpenters. This marks the beginning of work on all three chariots. The wheels are made first. They resemble the round and large eyes of Lord Jagannath. In total 42 wheels are constructed for the three chariots. On the last day of Chandan Yatra, the wheels are fixed to the principal axles. Four long ropes made out of coconut fibers are fastened to the chariot, which is used by the devotees to pull the chariot. The iron nails, brackets, clamps, etc for the construction and holding the woods together are indigenously prepared by the native blacksmiths. The part of the chariot above the wheels is the superstructure which is built of eighteen pillars and roofs at different stages known as bhuin, potala, parabhadi, etc. This construction process of the chariots is complicated as it involves 34 components for each chariot. Each chariot holds nine subsidiary deities which are made up of woods like Dhwaja debata( deity to hold the flag on the top of the chariot). The height of the three chariots is 44 feet, 45 feet and 45 feet, 6 inches. 

After the construction, great care is given to the decoration of chariots to enhance the splendid craftsmanship of the finest artists of Odisha. The skilled tailors prepare the canopies for the chariots which are covered with approximately 1250 meters of intricately embroidered red, black, green, and yellow clothes. They also make cushions for the deities to rest on. 

After the Ratha Yatra is finished the chariots are dismantled and the woods are used as fuel in the kitchen of Jagannath temple to prepare Mahaprasad(devotional food) as an offering to Lord Jagannath. 



WRITTEN BY - SWADHANSHREE SAHOO

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