Puri: The Chandan Yatra of deities of Sri Jagannath began at the pilgrim town today.
Idols of Madanmohan, Bhudebi, Sridebi and Ramkrushna participated in the yatra, after the rituals at noon as decided by the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration.
Two new Chapas or boats – Nanda and Bhadra_ have been built for the yatra.
Construction of chariots for the world famous Rath Yatra was also kick-started today on the auspicious occasion of Akshay Tritiya.
The Purohit of the Jagannath temple along with the Srotiya Brahmins completed all the rituals at the chariot construction yard.
Then the Agyan Mala was placed on a 12-feet Dhaura wooden log, which marked the beginning of the chariot construction.
"We prayed before the Lord Jagannath to seek his strength to construct the chariot and smoothly conduct the rituals," said Jannardan Pattajoshi Mohapatra, the Nayak of Chhatisa Nijog.
"As per the rituals, the Lord arrived along with the Agyan Mala after which the chariot construction work was inaugurated," said Bijay Kumar Mohapatra, the chief carpenter of the Nandighosh chariot.