By Our Correspondent
PURI/BHUBANESWAR:Today, on the 74th day of the chariot construction, the chariot builders arrived at the chariot yard at 8:00 am and began the construction work after receiving the guidance of the Chief Maharana.
*Chariot construction progress*
(By yesterday, the three-tiered door frame had been raised and the polishing of the carved figures in the three-tiered Prabha was completed.)
*The flagpole at the entrance to the Tinirath Gate is now lit*
Today, to strengthen the door frame, the top part of the door frame has been connected to the moon pole and a pin has been set in the middle ground. Tomorrow, to strengthen the door frame, two support buttons will be fitted in each door frame along with the nut legs of each door frame, 16 pieces per door frame.
*Iron ring fitting work completed on the new brake pulley of the Tricycle*
Today, under the supervision of the Chief Maharana, with the cooperation of the associate Maharana and the Bhoi Sevaks, the iron fitting work on the new brake pulleys of the three chariots was completed.
*The four corners of the three chariot altar are decorated with Parusha boards in the final stage*
Today, the work of gluing boards on the four corners of the altar above the three chariots has begun. The work of gluing boards on the four corners of the altar has been completed to raise the door frame on the chariot. Since the work of raising the door frame on the three chariots has been completed, today the Maharana Sevaks of the three chariots have reached the final stage of gluing boards on the four corners of the altar above the three chariots.
*Painting work begins in the morning*
Today, the painters have finished applying white primer to the walls for the third time in the morning. After the primer dries, they will paint the walls in the morning.
(The lower flag chariot will be carved in the form of a colored picture with a lotus in the middle and pictures of Shiva and Narada on both sides of the chariot, the double chariot will be carved with a lotus in the middle and pictures of Ganga and Yamuna on both sides and the Nandi chariot will be carved with a lotus in the middle and pictures of Indra and Brahma on both sides)
In addition, the painters have continued painting the outer parts of the three chariots, as well as the charioteers, horses, etc.
*Chariot Tailor*
After cutting the edges three times, the work is completed by adding a luxurious lace (zaari lace) to the three-wheeled fabric, and then adding silver zari flowers and a millstone.
Tomorrow, they will start work on the three-way door frame and the kana cutting for Chandra Shali, along with the fine silver zari embroidery.
*Blacksmith’s axe*
At the temporary blacksmith shop in Dolavedi, the Ojha blacksmiths have completed the manufacture of iron rings for the three-wheeled flagpoles and new brake pulleys, and have supplied them to the chariot masters. They are also continuing the manufacture of the three-wheeled Prabha Bidia poles.
The presence of the charioteer*
*Tiniratha’s Maharana Sevak – 77
*Tiniratha’s servant – 76
*Servant in the form of a three-wheeled chariot – 21
*Three Chariots Karti Sevak – 4
*Tum Bindha Craftsman – 2
*Pahi Maharana – 2
*Painter – 40
*Rathakhala Assistant (Water Carrier) 1
Total – 243 people
