By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR/PURI: Amid religious flavour an devotional atmosphere, ‘Ratha Anukula’ ritual marking the beginning of construction of chariots for the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra began in the pilgrimage city of Puri on Tuesday on the special occasion of Akshay Tritiya. This year, the Rath Jatra will commence from 1 July.
As per the tradition, the designated servitors of the 12th century Shrine performed a ‘yajna’ at the Ratha Khala (chariot construction yard) and ‘ajyanmallya’ of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra were brought in a procession from Srimandir and handed over to the three chief carpenters. SJTA Chief Administrator VV Yadav and senior officials were present.
