Odisha Coir Board hands over 26 ropes for Puri Rath Yatra chariots

The Odisha Cooperative Coir Corporation Ltd (OCCC/Coir Board) on Wednesday handed over 26 heavy-duty coir ropes to Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to be used in Rath Yatra.

In a first, the ropes this time have been rolled by the women members of several Self-Help Groups (SHG).

As per reports, out of the 26 ropes, 14 will be used to pull the Chariots and the remaining 12 ropes will be used for cordoning off the Chariots.

Speaking about the ropes, Manager of OCCC, Surendra Kumar Sahu said, “I thank the SJTA for entrusting us with this responsibility. By the grace of Lord Jagannath, we have been providing the ropes for Rath Yatra uninterruptedly for the last 16 years.”

“We have provided 26 ropes out of which 12 will be used as cordon ropes. Out of the 12 cordon ropes, nine ropes will be used for both inner and outer cordons and three will be used as police cordon,” Sahu informed.

Speaking about the manpower used to make these ropes, Sahu said, “Women from 20 SHGs were roped in from various parts of the State to make these ropes.”

The Rath Yatra this year will begin on June 20.