Bhanjanagar: The construction of the three chariots for the deities for the Puri Rath Yatra is currently underway at the Puri Rath Khala. For this purpose, chariot wood is being brought to Puri from various forest divisions of the state. Among them, the Ghumusar South and North Forest Divisions of Ganjam district have been sending chariot wood for the Rath Yatra for many years.
Last Tuesday, the first phase of 23 wooden logs was sent to Puri Rath Khala after performing rituals. These logs were brought from the Ambajhara and Ghogara protected forests under the North Ghumusar Forest Division. On Monday, in the second phase, chariot wood was dispatched from the Baibali protected forest in the Mujagarh forest area.
During the dispatch, a spiritual atmosphere was witnessed at the site. People at various locations along the route stopped the chariot wood-laden vehicle and offered prayers.
Since such specific wood is no longer readily available in forests, the Forest Department and the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration jointly hold meetings well in advance of the Rath Yatra to select suitable wood. This is followed by planning and cutting of the wood.
During the dispatch on Monday, notable attendees included Himanshu Sekhar Mohanty (North Forest Division Officer), ACF Vivek Kumar Das, Dr. Rashmi Ranjan Sain, Mujagarh Forest Area Officer Bimbadhar Sahu, Central Forest Division Officer Prithviraj Pradhan, Bhanjanagar Block Chairman Narisabha Nayak, MP’s DRDA representative Shibashankar Pradhan, BJP leaders Subash Chandra Barad and Ranjit Patra, and many forest department staff members.