Puri: The Akhi Muthi Anukula rituals were observed in adherence to Covid protocols by the farming communities across Odisha today marking the initiation of this season agricultural activities.
As per the tradition, farmers kick off their agriculture works after performing puja on farmland. People also prefer to initiate major pious activities or projects like house construction, marriage ceremony on this day.
On the occasion of Akshay Tritiya, the construction of chariots for the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath will also begin from today. The Biswakarma and other Maharana servitors will bring the divine garland of consent (Agyan Mala) from Goddess Charchika in front of Srimandir before commencing the chariot construction as per the vedic rituals at the Ratha Khala on the Bada Danda.
Several set of wood logs from Nayagarh Forest Division have reached the Puri Bada Danda after slicing from Cuttack for the construction of chariots.
Today also marks the commencement of the famous Chandan Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri. The first phase of the 21-day festival also called the Bahara Chandan Yatra has begun at the Narendra Puskarini. The second phase of 21-day ceremony will continue inside Puri Jagannath Temple.
Puri district police has clamped section 144 in and around the area of the Puskarini. Five-layered security arrangements have been made for the special occasion. A total of six enforcement teams have been pressed into service for proper implementation of Covid norms during the three-week-long festival.
One additional SP rank officer, 6 DSP, 8 inspectors, 50 constables and 8 platoons of police force have been deployed for the event, informed Puri Collector Samarth Verma.
So far, a total of 250 servitors have been tested for Covid-19 and as per the decision of the temple administration, only those who test negative are being allowed to participate, said the Collector.