Puri: Chariot construction for Lord Jagannath’s annual Rath Yatra began in Puri on Tuesday on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Trutiya.
After receiving the ‘angyan mala’ from Lord Jagannath, three logs of ‘dhaura’ variety wood were worshipped at the Ratha Khala as per Banajaga rituals.
The servitors symbolically touched the three logs with gold and silver axes to begin the process for the annual Rath Yatra.
Around 100 carpenters would be deployed for making the three huge chariots – Nandighosha for Lord Jagannath, Taladhwaja for Balabhadra, and Debadalana for Subhadra.
The 21-day-long Chandan Yatra of the holy Trinity also commenced this evening.
After a gap of two years this time the famous Chandan Jatra is being held amid the presence of devotees.