Artisans giving new look to chariot

RANCHI: Preparations for Rath Yatra are on in full swing with over 50 artisans, craftsmen and weavers giving a new look to the wooden chariot of Lord Jagannath, Balbhadra and Subhadra.
The preparations are expected to be completed within a couple of days. Head priest of the Jaggannath temple Jagdish Mohnaty said, "This is one of the oldest temples after Puri.We have made every effort to try and maintain the tradition. Maintaining the tradition, we are taking every precaution to ensure that there is no deviation in the rituals when the festival starts on July 3,” said Mohanty adding this made the tradition unique in the region.
The chariot festival of Lord Jaggannath will start from the main temple on July 3 and will reach Mausi Badi the same day. "The Lord will stay there for nine days and then return to his abode on July 11," said the priest.
Priests of the temple said more than three lakh devotees, including VIPs, took part in the procession on the first day, when the chariot was pulled from the temple to Mausi Badi.
The devotees come from almost every district of Jharkhand, neighbouring Bihar and Chhattisgarh.
"Since we have maintained the tradition started in the 17th century by the then King Raja Thakur Aney Nath Sahdeo, people have faith and they make it a point to come to the temple and take part in Rath Yatra from far- off places," said a priest.
He said almost all the ministers, senior bureaucrats and businessmen of the state made it a point to be present during Rath Yatra.
"The only thing that has changed over the years is the scale of the mela. Every year the fair is growing bigger and traders from all over the country have started putting up their stalls. Off late businessmen have also started coming up with expensive joy rides to attract the younger generation," said a priest.