Rath Yatra: Logs Arrive For Chariot Construction In Puri

Puri: The process for the construction of the three chariots for Rath Yatra in Puri began on Saturday with the arrival of logs from Nayagarh Forest Range. The Rath Yatra is scheduled to be held on June 23 this year.

The chief supervisor of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Sudarshan Mekap, said they had requested Nayagarh Forest Range officials to send 672 logs for the construction of the three chariots.

In the first phase, the forest officials have sent two truckloads of 53 logs. These include 10 Asana logs (12 feet each), 11 Asana logs (20 feet each), 24 Dhaura logs (12 feet each) and 8 Dhaura logs (20 feet each). The remaining 619 logs will arrive in later phases.

Mekap said the royal priests will perform the rituals of three Dhaura logs at Ratha Khala (the place where the chariots are built) on Basant Panchami (Saraswati Puja) on January 30.

He informed that earlier, the logs were kept near the temple. But as the beautification work is going on around the temple security zone, the logs will be kept outside the zone as per the direction of the district administration, he added.