First logs for Puri Rath Yatra chariots sliced in Cuttack

Cuttack: It is the devotion for Lord Jagannath that has been inspiring the employees of the Government Saw Mill at Khapuria in Cuttack to do a unique service ahead of the Rath Yatra in Puri. The first log to be used in construction of the chariots for the famous Puri Rath Yatra, was sliced at the saw mill with religious fervour here in Cuttack on Tuesday.

Considered auspicious, Ram Navami, marks the beginning of the process to slice the logs in the mill, that are then shaped into the three chariots used by the Trinity in Puri.

The employees here work overtime to complete the slicing as the day scheduled for the commencement of construction work for the three chariots - Akshaya Trutiya - is inching closer. This time over 30 employees have been roped in to complete the slicing of over 6,000 cubic ft of logs procured from Nayagarh forest division, said sub-divisional manager, Khapuria government saw mill, Ram Chandra Das.

“Already 360 logs of three different species of trees mostly Phasi, Asana and Dhurua trees have reached the saw mill while 700 more would shortly arrive,” he added.

Das further informed that staff of the mill wait for the Ram Navami day so that they can contribute their bit to the making of chariots. “During the Nabakalebar festival, over 10,000 to 12,000 cubic ft of logs were sliced here,” Das added.

The tradition of cutting of the timber at the Government Saw Mill at Khapuria has been continuing for the last 12 years under the supervision of carpenters of the Puri Jagannath Temple.

These logs will be used for the construction of the seven axles and 14 wheels of the chariot of Lord Balabhadra, eight axle and 16 wheels of Lord Jagannath and 6 axles, 12 wheels along with platform and base of the chariot of Goddess Subhadra.