Bhubaneswar, Aug 9: Veteran chariot carpenter Krushna Chandra Maharana, aged 90, has passed away. Maharana, renowned for his lifelong dedication to crafting the Darpadalana chariot for the annual Rath Yatra festival, died of cardiac arrest at his residence in Markandeswar Sahi.

Throughout his illustrious career, which spanned over seven decades, Maharana served as the chief carpenter for the Darpadalana chariot. He was instrumental in constructing more than 70 chariots and played a significant role in five Nabakalebara ceremonies—rituals involving the renewal of the wooden idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Sudarshan.

Despite his advanced age, Maharana remained actively involved in the chariot-making process. He was frequently seen supervising the chariot construction at Ratha Khala during the recent Rath Yatra and had also visited Deuli Math in Kakatpur during the last Nabakalebara ceremony.

Maharana’s passing has created a significant loss for the Biswakarma Maharana, Bhoi Maharana, and Kumara Sevaka communities.

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