The endowment trust board of Baladevjew Temple in Kendrapada has procured 1,200 cubic feet of sal wood from the Tomka and Sukinda forest divisions in Jajpur district for the construction of the state's second-tallest wooden chariot for the annual Rath Yatra.
The 64-foot chariot is taller than the chariots of Jagannath Temple, while Keonjhar has the tallest chariot in the state. "We require 2,700 cubic feet of sal wood, but only 1,200 cubic feet has been supplied so far," said Balabhadra Patri, executive officer of the temple. Around 45 carpenters will soon begin construction using the high-quality sal wood.
New Wheels and Construction Timeline
Patri stated that all 14 wheels of the chariot will be newly crafted this year. "Earlier, old timber was used to build and repair the wheels. Last year, six wheels developed cracks during the Rath Yatra, causing the chariot to bend while devotees were pulling it," he said. Old timber will still be used for some portions of the chariot.
While construction of the three chariots at Puri began on Akshaya Tritiya, work on the Baladevjew chariot will start on April 29. The construction has been delayed by around 10 days due to the late arrival of sal wood. Patri added that artisans are determined to complete the work before Rath Yatra.
Government Funding and Historical Context
The state government sanctioned Rs 1 crore for the new chariot's construction. Kendrapada, known as 'Tulasi Khetra', is the abode of Lord Baladevjew. The present temple was built in 1761 by Kujang king Raja Gopal Sandha.
