Puri: Ahead of the famous Chandan Yatra of Lord Jagannath, preparation for making the boats ready for the annual festival began in the pilgrim town of Odisha on the occasion of Chaitra Purnima on Thursday.
Five boats are being prepared for the Chandan Yatra scheduled to kick start in the seaside pilgrim town on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya on April 23. Construction of chariots for the annual Rath Yatra will also begin on Akshaya Tritiya.
The five boats – Nanda, Bhadra (4) and Baijajantri (1) – were recovered from the holy Narendra Pond by Bhoi Sevayats.
According to the scriptures, after the completion of the Lord’s Chandan Yatra every year, all the five boats are broken and immersed in the Narendra Podnd by the boat attendants. These boats are recovered on Chaitra Purnima every year, said Bhoi Sardar Rabi Bhoi.
These boats will be repaired and prepared for the 21-day Chandan Yatra starting from Akshay Tritiya.
“Therefore, the Bhoi Sevayats lifted all the five boats from the Narendra Pond and started preparing for the annual ritual,” he said.
