Odisha celebrates agrarian festival AkshayaTritiya; construction of Puri Rath Yatra chariots commences

The day of ‘Akshaya Tritiya’ is considered to be auspicious for new beginnings like weddings, buying property, making investments, etc. 

Rajendra Prasad Mohapatra
  • Published: Friday, 10 May 2024
  • Last updated: 10 May 2024, 02:00 PM IST

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The popular agrarian festival ‘Akshaya Tritiya’ is being celebrated as per the age-old tradition across Odisha today. The farmers across the State are performing traditional ‘Akhi Muthi Anukula’, the ritual of sowing seeds in their paddy fields after ploughing their lands.

As per the age-old rituals, farmers observe the festival as ‘Siddhi and Suddhi Dibasa’. They wear new clothes, carry a basket of seeds and sow those in their fields. These seeds are known as offerings to Goddess Lakshmi which is believed to bring rich harvest.

Significance Of AkshayaTritiya Festival

As per the legend, the word ‘Akshaya’ means something that never diminishes and that is why it is believed that things that started on the day of ‘Akshaya Tritiya’ continue to grow and prosper.

The day of ‘Akshaya Tritiya’ is considered to be auspicious for new beginnings like weddings, buying property, making investments, etc. 

Akshaya Tritiya is also considered to be the day of the birth of Lord Parsurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is also considered the day when Ved Vyasa and Lord Ganesha started writing the Mahabharata.

Construction of Puri Rath Yatra Chariot Commences

From this day, construction of the chariots for the famous Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri begins too. Carpenters start making chariots for Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, for the procession to be carried out on the day of world famous Rath Yatra.

As per the popular tradition, the temple servitors will perform a special ritual at the ‘Rath Khala’ (chariot making yard) and bring ‘Angya Mala’ (garland signifying directive from the deities) seeking his command and place the same on three pieces of woods. The chief carpenters of the three chariots will symbolically touch the gold axe on the three wooden logs after which they would shape the logs for chariot making.

Chandan Yatra Begins on Akshaya Tritiya

Akshaya Tritiya also marks the beginning of the ‘Chandan Yatra’ of the Holy Trinity of Srimandir in Puri. Madan Mohan, the representative idol of Lord Jagannath, along with the representative idols of Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, Bhudevi, Sridevi and five Shivalingas known as Pancha Pandavas are taken out of the sanctum sanctorum, and placed in lavishly decorated palanquins, known as ‘bimanas’; and, taken in a procession to Narendra tank. 

Puri Srimandir temple administration has made elaborate arrangements for the festival which will last for 21 days.

Wishes Pour in on Akshaya Tritiya 2024

PM Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and BJP National Vice-President Baijayant Panda among others extended their greetings to the people of the State on the auspicious occasion.

"Akshaya Tritiya is a very auspicious day in Odisha and for the great Odia culture. This is the day when the making of chariots begins for the Rath Yatra of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath. It is also closely linked with Akhi Muthi Anukula, when farmers start sowing seeds. May the blessings of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath always remain upon us," tweeted PM Modi.

Wishing the farmers on X (earlier known as Twitter), CM Naveen wrote, "...May a good harvest this year bring happiness and prosperity in everyone's life.

Taking to X, the BJP VP wishes all and farmers on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. "...May this festival bring happiness, peace and prosperity to everybody,” wrote Panda.


 

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