Puri (Odisha), April 30 -- The construction of the three chariots for the annual Rath Yatra and the 21-day Chandan Yatra began on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya here on Wednesday.
As per tradition, priests performed a yajna at the Rath construction yard and consecrated three Dhaura timber logs.
Pujapanda servitors brought the Agyanmala (divine garlands of command) of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra in a procession from the Shri Mandir and handed them over to the three Biswakarmas (carpenters) entrusted with constructing the chariots.
The Biswakarmas were presented with headgear (turbans) as a symbol of responsibility. They then began the construction work with ceremonial axes.
Around 5:30 PM, Madan Mohan, ...