Finance
Akshaya Tritiya is regarded as one of the most auspicious events in Odisha since it marks the start of the construction of chariots for the famous Puri Rath Yatra. Furthermore, Lord Jagannath and his siblings’ 21-day Chandan Yatra in the holy city of Puri will begin today to commemorate the Hindu festival.
Chandan Yatra, also known as the ‘Gandhalepana Yatra’, is the longest festival held at Puri’s Jagannath Temple. During the Chandan Yatra, the representative idols of the Jagannath Temple’s principal deities, as well as five ‘Shivalingas’ known as the ‘Pancha Pandava’, are brought in a ceremonial procession from the Jagannath Temple’s ‘Singhadwara’ in Puri to the Narendra Tirtha tank.
Following the rituals, the deities are taken to the Narendra Pond, near the Jagannath Temple, and set on grandly decked boats for an evening cruise around the tank.
Similarly, to mark the beginning of the construction of the Holy Trinity’s chariots, temple servants will undertake a special ritual at the Rath Khala, bringing Angya Mala requesting his command and placing it on three pieces of wood. Notably, almost 100 carpenters would be hired to build the three massive chariots: 45-foot-high Nandighosha for Lord Jagannath, 44-foot-high Taladhwaja for Lord Balabhadra, and 43-foot-high Debadalana for Devi Subhadra.
