Puri, May 8: As preparations for the world-renowned Rath Yatra are underway on June 27, chariot construction work in its eight-day is underway in full swing at the Ratha Khala in front of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.
As per the traditional Shilpa Shastra, the construction of the three grand chariots begins with the making of the wheels.
Starting from the day after Akshaya Tritiya, the initial phase of construction, the preparation of wheel hubs has now been completed. A total of 42 wheel hubs have been crafted. Once the cotton strings are wrapped around the hubs, Vishwakarma Maharana artisans begin the process of binding the wheel structures.
According to the Chief Vishwakarma Maharana, all 42 wheels for the three chariots, 16 pairs for each, will undergo 1,344 bindings during construction. These wheels form the core foundation of the chariots used to carry Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra during the annual Rath Yatra.
Bhoi servitors play a significant role in providing the required timber for construction. Under the supervision of the Bhoi Sardar, over 30 Bhoi servitors are working with deep devotion to ensure that the necessary wood is supplied to the craftsmen.
Following Nrusimha Chaturdashi, the next stage of wheel construction will be facilitated to aid in binding the wheels.
