Preparations for Rath Yatra 2026 Begin with SJTA Team’s Visit to Nayagarh

Puri: The preparatory process for the world-famous Rath Yatra 2026 of Lord Jagannath formally began on Tuesday with the departure of a representative team from the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to Badamul in the Dasapalla range of Nayagarh district.

Led by the Rath Tattvabadharak of the SJTA, the team is visiting the Bada Raula Thakurani temple to perform traditional rituals seeking divine permission for the cutting of wood required for the construction of the holy chariots. The visit marks the first ceremonial step in the annual cycle of Rath Yatra preparations.

As part of the age-old observance, the delegation is carrying sacred items such as garlands, mahardd, coconut, betel leaf, sindoor, lamp, and naivedya (offerings). The team also includes Rath Amin Lakshman Mahapatra, who supervises the chariot construction process, and Bhoi Sardar Rabi Bhoi, representing the traditional servitor community involved in the wood-cutting rituals.

Following the performance of puja and archana at the Bada Raula Thakurani temple, the formal process of cutting the chariot wood will commence after obtaining the goddess’s consent, in accordance with long-standing religious traditions.

According to the SJTA, 865 wooden logs are required each year for the construction of the three chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra. As 47 logs remain unused from the previous year, the administration will procure 818 new logs this year. The logs include asana, dhaura, and phasi varieties of wood traditionally used for chariot construction.

The collected wood will be sanctified on Saraswati Puja, while the actual construction of the chariots will begin on Akshaya Tritiya, another important milestone in the Rath Yatra calendar.

The commencement of these preparations highlights the meticulous planning and deep-rooted traditions associated with the grand festival, which attracts millions of devotees to Puri every year.