Puri: As Odisha celebrates the agrarian festival of Akshaya Tritiya with enthusiasm and fervour on Wednesday, elaborate arrangements have been made for Lord Jagannath’s famous Chandan Yatra in Puri.
Intrinsically linked with Odisha’s rich culture and traditions, the annual festival marks the commencement of agricultural operations with sowing of paddy seeds before the onset of monsoon in the state. It is considered highly auspicious for beginning of new initiatives.
Akshaya Tritiya, considered highly significant in Shree Jagannath culture, also heralds the beginning of the construction of chariots for the annual Rath Yatra of the sibling deities of the 12th century shrine in the pilgrim town.
While construction of three giant chariots for the car festival will commence at the ‘Rath Khala’ on the Grand Road outside Shree Jagannath Temple in the seaside pilgrim town, Chandan Yatra will be organised in the sacred Narendra tank.
Servitors are scheduled to bring the Agyan Mala for the three logs of wood for the three chariots in the afternoon. After getting the ‘Agyan Mala’ (divine permission), the servitors will perform puja and cutting of wood will begin for construction of chariots. The Rath Yatra will be celebrated on June 27 this year.
Sources said the Madhyanha Dhupa ritual will be performed between 1.15 pm and 2.30 pm. After the Madhyanha Dhupa, three Angyanmala (garland of order) of the three deities of Srimandira will come from the temple and then the chariot construction work will commence according to the Banajaga ritual.
The temple priests (Deula Purohita), the Rajguru of the Srinaar, the Shostriya Brahmins will perform the yagna in a specially built yagnashala. The yagna will be offered to the Ishtadev Prabhu Nrusingha with the mantra of Nrusingha.
As per the special rituals, the temple priest will first touch the three wood logs with three miniature golden axes, which are blessed and sanctified with the mantra of Maa Dakhinakali, and then the Vishwakarmas will be engaged in the construction of the chariots.
During Chandan Yatra, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra enjoy water sports to beat the summer heat.
The 42-day Chandan Yatra is held in two phases. The first 21-day external (Bahara) Chandan Yatra will be held at the Narendra tank. In this yatra, the moving idols of Mahaprabhu, Madanmohan, Bhudevi, Sridevi, Ramakrishna and the five Mahadevs will perform water sports on the Nanda and Bhadra boats.
