Rath makers’ hard labour bears fruit

Bhubaneswar: The construction of the three chariots is over. So is the effort put in by hundreds of people, involved in making them. Like lakhs of devotees, people, who have fashioned the Raths, are eagerly waiting for the Lord to appear.
“It is a massive event. I have been involved in making of chariots every year during the Rath Yatra, but this year is different due to the Nabakalebara,” said Akshay Swain, 21, who worked on Taladhwaj, the chariot of Balabhadra.The chariots are constructed conforming to Rath Sanhita (chariot code).
On Saraswati Puja, wood meant for the construction of chariots is brought to Ratha Khala (Rath construction yard) in front of the Jagannath Temple office.
Once the Rath construction is over, the parswa debata (deities installed on sides), dwarapala (watchmen), ghoda (horse), sarathi (charioteer) and sua (parrot) are built newly for Nabakalebara.
“The arrangements are elaborate this year. The chariots have been given a better finishing compared to the previous Nabakalebara in 1996,” said Rajendra Kumar Mohapatra, 45, who is a construction in-charge of Nandighosh, Jagannath’s Rath.
“All the idols will wear new jewellery. It will be a dream come true to see them in their new avatar. We have done everything possible to give the Gods a warm welcome onto the chariots,” Purna Chandra Mohapatra, who oversaw construction of the Darpadalan Rath for Subhadra, said.