Bhubaneswar, May 10: Akshaya Tritiya heralds the auspicious beginning of the revered Puri Rath Yatra in Odisha, as the construction of the chariots commences on this sacred day. Simultaneously, the revered 21-day Chandan Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his divine siblings initiates today, coinciding with this Hindu festival.

Known as the 'Gandhalepana Yatra,' Chandan Yatra holds significance as the lengthiest celebration observed at the Jagannath Temple in Puri. During this festival, the representative idols of the temple's primary deities, alongside five 'Shivalingas' known as the 'Pancha Pandava,' embark on a ceremonial procession from the Singhadwara of the Jagannath Temple to the Narendra Tirtha tank.

Following the prescribed rituals, the deities are reverently transported to the Narendra pond adjacent to the Jagannath Temple, where they are placed on elaborately adorned boats for a serene evening cruise around the tank.

Concurrently, marking the inception of chariot construction for the Holy Trinity, temple servitors perform a special ritual at the Rath Khala. Seeking divine command, they place Angya Mala on three pieces of wood. Notably, close to 100 carpenters are tasked with crafting the three colossal chariots: the 45-feet-high Nandighosha for Lord Jagannath, the 44-feet-high Taladhwaja for Lord Balabhadra, and the 43-feet-high Debadalana for Devi Subhadra.

Powered by Froala Editor