Chariots Of This Year’s Rath Yatra To Be Preserved

Puri : Chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra used in the annual Rath Yatra this year will be preserved for posterity.

“A proposal to preserve the chariots was adopted at the joint meeting of the temple managing committee and Chhatisha Nijog. The first meeting in this connection was held today,” informed Krishan Kumar, Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration briefing reporters here on Wednesday.

We have requested for forming a technical committee to look into the challenges likely to be faced like treatment to protect the chariots from white ants etc, he added.

He said that after four-five days he would be holding another meeting in this regard.

“As the Jagganth Ballav mutt is considered as the Pramod Udyan (pleasure garden) of the Mahaprabhu, a plan for its development is already approved. In that plan there is provision for the stationing of the three chariots,” the SJTA Chief revealed.

He said that some wood used in the chariots may not be fit for reuse after dismantling those would be replaced with new wood during reassembling of the chariots at Jagannath Ballav mutt.

However, Bijay Mahapatra, the Chief Carpenter of Nandighosha-the chariot of Jagannath has informed that nothing has been finalised on the decision of the SJTA for the stationing of the three chariots of the Mahaprabhu at Jagannath Ballav mutt.

The SJTA will decide where the three chariots will be parked at Jagannath Ballav mutt, it was not discussed at the meeting, Mahapatra said.

“Officials of the administration have been asked to identify the place where the chariots will be parked. No decision has been taken on whether the existing three chariots will be preserved or new ones will be constructed,” Mahapatra added.

Mahapatra informed that they have been told that a Rath Park will be set up, however, the parking place of the chariots has not been finalised whether the same chariots would be preserved or new ones will be built.

As per tradition, the three chariots are demolished at the parking place in front of the Shree Mandir after the completion of the Rath Yatra and other rituals associated with it. And the wood of the chariots is used as fuel in the Jagannath Temple kitchen to cook ‘Kotha Bhoga’.