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With the Covid-19 infections graph witnessing a downward curve in the State, the Rukuna Rath Yatra of Lord Lingaraj is all set to be celebrated with full splendour this year.
However, the chariot construction work for the festival, scheduled to complete on April 8, has hit a roadblock due to the delay in the arrival of timbers and, moreover, of its poor quality.
On the other hand, the temple administration and the chariot makers are confident that they will be able to build the chariot in time.
“The chariot construction work has been delayed for a while due to the late arrival of timbers. Some of the wood logs were also of poor quality. However, we have intensified the work. We are confident that we will be able to make the chariot ready by April 8,” said chief carpenter Bata Krushna Moharana.
“We have set the axels and wheels of the chariot and four ‘nahakas’ will be erected tomorrow. We are working overtime to make the chariot ready in time for the grand festival of Lord Lingaraj,” said Moharana.
“The chariot construction work should have started from ‘Dola Purnima’. But the work has been delayed due to certain reasons. The work is in full swing now and we will make up for the lost time by working overtime,” said Sibu Moharana, another carpenter.
Meanwhile, the temple administration has pinned hope on the chariot makers to finish their work by April 8.
“We have set a target that the chariot will be ready by April 8. Some rituals (Ratha Pratistha) will be performed on the chariot on the same day. Devotees will pull the chariot starting from 3.30 in the following day during the famous festival,” said Rajkishore Mohapatra, Supervisor of Lingaraj temple.
