Rath Yatra 2025: The Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra is scheduled to begin on June 27 in Puri, Odisha, aiming to revive the spirit of Sanatan in the country and abroad. Everyone’s eyes are on this Jagannath Rath Yatra, in which there is a gathering of devotion to the Lord. Devotees from all over the country participate and are also welcomed at various places.
The chariot is entirely ready for the religious journey that fills the devotees with faith. For this yagna, a 45-foot-high chariot has been prepared, involving 200 people. It takes 58 days to prepare three chariots. Their speciality is also very amazing. The state and central government also keep a close eye on this journey. Preparations have also been made at the administrative level to ensure the program’s success and provide convenience to the devotees.
New chariots are made annually.
Three chariots are made annually for the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra. The chariot is decorated with five types of wood. Its height is 45 feet. No scale is used to measure the wood. There is a stick with which the wood is measured. Chariots weighing more than 200 tons are made. The most important thing is that new chariots are developed every year. After the completion of the yatra, the chariot is dismantled so that none of its materials can be used in the following year.
Chariots made from wood of trees with auspicious marks
For the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra, the chariot is made from auspicious wood. For this, wood is brought from the forests of Mayurbhanj, Ganjam and Keonjhar districts of Odisha. The priests mark the trees at an auspicious time. For the chariot, wood from such trees is chosen on which marks like Shankh, Gada, or Padma are visible.
The wood of trees near the river, temple or crematorium and on which birds have made nests, is not used. When the priests select the trees, they are worshipped, and axes are used to cut them. The wood is sent to Puri on Basant Panchami as per the auspicious time. The work of cutting the wood starts on the occasion of Ramnavami. Additionally, the work of making chariots begins on Akshaya Tritiya.