Puri: The cutting of logs for the construction of chariots of the Lords for the ensuing Rath Yatra in Puri began at the government saw mill at Khapuria in Cuttack city on Thursday on the occasion of Ram Navmi.
As per tradition, three ‘Dharua’ logs from Puri were taken to Khapuria after receiving ‘Agyanmala’ from Jagannath Temple by the temple servitors, Maharana sevayats, and an official of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA).
These logs will be used for the construction of the Nandighosa chariot of Lord Jagannath, Taladhwaja chariot of Lord Balabhadra and Darpadalana chariot of Goddess Subhadra.
According to the temple tradition, the chariot construction work begins from Akshaya Tritiya for which 865 logs are required. As of now, the temple administration has only 193 logs.
It has been decided that out of 865 logs, 266 will be sent to Khapuria saw mill for cutting while the remaining will be used by the temple carpenters at the Ratha Khala in Puri.