Puri, March 27: Preparations for the world-famous Rath Yatra 2026 have gathered pace, with the initial phase of chariot construction set to begin on the occasion of Ram Navami.
As part of the traditional rituals, the auspicious wood cutting (Chirata Anukula) ceremony will be held on Friday at a sawmill in Khapuria, Cuttack. A special team from the Jagannath Temple administration will depart in the morning carrying sacred offerings of the deities, informed senior supervisor Chittaranjan Mohapatra.
According to the prescribed Ratha code, a total of 865 logs are required for the construction of the three chariots—Taladhwaja of Lord Balabhadra, Darpadalana of Goddess Subhadra, and Nandighosha of Lord Jagannath.
While 47 logs from the previous year are already available with the temple administration, an additional 818 logs are required for this year’s Rath Yatra. The Forest Department has been asked to supply 416 logs to the Rath Khala at Bada Danda and 402 logs to the Khapuria sawmill for processing. Besides, around 100 pieces of raw timber, including varieties like Asana, Dhaura, Phasi and Simili, will also be needed.
Officials said the logs are being transported in phases to the designated locations. The formal construction of the chariots will commence on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, marking a key milestone in the annual Rath Yatra preparations.
