Chariots Move Across Bhubaneswar To Collect Rice, Betel Nut For Puri Corridor Project

Bhubaneswar: Ahead of the inauguration of Jagannath Temple Heritage Corridor Project in Odisha’s Puri on January 17, special raths or chariots will start moving through different parts of Bhubaneswar on Monday.

The Srimandir Parikrama Raths will start rolling in all 67 wards of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) ahead of the grand event for which elaborate arrangements are being made by the state government and Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA).

According to sources, one chariot each will roll in three wards. Altogether 23 raths have been prepared and they will move along in a religious procession in the allotted wards to collect rice (anna) and betel nut (gua). The items will be consecrated at the local Jagannath temples on the inaugural day of the heritage corridor project on January 17, sources said.

Sankirtan parties will accompany the raths from door-to-door for collection of these items. Over 150 volunteers are being engaged for the job. A senior BMC official said three temples each in three BMC zones have been selected from where the raths will start rolling. Corporators have been assigned the task of working out the routes through which the raths will pass through.

The raths will move in the different wards of the city till January 13. A vehicle carrying a container will follow each chariot to store the collected rice and betel nuts to be taken to the Jagannath Temple.