Fani-ravaged Puri gears up for Rath Yatra

BHUBANESWAR: Against the backdrop of largescale devastation due to Cyclone Fani in Puri , the Jagannath temple administration on Tuesday pulled up its socks for July 4 Rath Yatra. While construction of chariots started on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya on Tuesday, it will be a testing time for the shrine officials and other government agencies to make preparations for the mega festival in the wake of massive damage to infrastructure like electricity, telecom service, hospitals, water supply and hotels.

“We all can realize the extent of the damage all around. Still, we will pull out all odds for smooth conduct of the annual car festival. We hope that the damaged infrastructure will be restored before Rath Yatra. A team of ASI experts will inspect the Jagannath temple's structure that suffered minor damage at a few isolated places,” Jagannath temple’s chief administrator Pradipta Mohapatra said.

The construction work of chariots started following a ceremonial puja in front of the temple office on Grand Road. The height of Taladhwaja chariot (of Lord Balabhadra) will be 45 ft, Nandighos (of Jagannath) 45.6ft and Devidalan (of goddess Subhadra) of 44.6ft. Nearly seventy-five carpenters will be engaged for the making of the iconic chariots. Besides, nearly 70 assistants (bhois), 10 blacksmiths, 22 painters and some traditional tailors will help the crafts persons in construction of the chariots.

Also on Tuesday, the Jagannath Temple administration started 21-day Chandan Yatra of Lord Jagannath. To beat the heat, the representative idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra were brought out of the sanctum sanctorum to enjoy the cool voyage in Narendra pond, nearly 500 meters from the 12th century shrine. Though pond and boats were affected by Fani, the administration made last minute arrangements for smooth-sailing of Chandan Yatra.

As Rath Yatra is barely two months left, the district administration will be on their toes to bring Fani-ravaged Puri to normal. Though restoration of damaged electricity and telephone lines is going on in full speed, it may take at least a month or two to fully rebuild Puri. “Our biggest worry is massive destruction of hotels and other accommodation centres in Puri. Hotel industry will take several months to revive. Since lakhs of pilgrims will throng Puri during car festival, their accommodation will be a major challenge for us,” a senior district official said.

“We may set up temporary makeshift shelter homes, just as we did during 2015 Nabakalebara Rath Yatra, this time if hotels fail to render services. We will also ensure adequate supply for drinking water to the pilgrims,” the officer said.