Following age-old tradition, the sacred Ratha Katha Anukula Puja was performed on Basant Panchami for the world-famous Rath Yatra 2026.
As per custom, three sacred Dhaura logs were placed at the Rath Khala in front of the Shree Jagannath Temple administration office. After the Saraswati Puja inside the temple office, priests and the royal Rajguru performed rituals to sanctify the logs. Lime water was sprinkled to purify the site before the logs were ceremonially worshipped.
The puja marks the formal beginning of preparations for the construction of the three grand chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra. On Ram Navami, the ritual of cutting the logs will commence, while on Akshaya Tritiya, the actual construction of the chariots will begin at the Rath Khala.
This year, the first batch of wood for the chariots has already reached Puri’s Bada Danda. A total of 83 logs, including 20-foot and 12-foot Dhaura wood pieces, arrived in three trucks from the Daspalla forest region of Nayagarh district. More consignments will arrive in phases in the coming days.
The ritual not only preserves centuries-old tradition but also symbolises the spiritual beginning of the grand Rath Yatra, which draws millions of devotees and tourists to Puri every year.
