Bio-bubble works out, Puri Jagannath Temple administration keeps Covid at bay at Ratha Khala

BHUBANESWAR: The construction of the chariots for the Rath Yatra in Puri has gained momentum with 26 carpenters, who had contracted Covid-19, having resumed work on recovering from the infection.
Ratha Khala, where the wooden chariots are being built, saw all 198 carpenters in attendance on Sunday.
The nine-day Rath Yatra is set to begin on July 12. The construction of the chariots started on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya on May 15.However, the temple administration received initial jitters following the detection of the infection among some of the sevaks, including carpenters, Bhoi servitors, painters and artisans.
“We took timely steps to keep the Ratha Khala protected from the spread of Covid. As the carpenters were scheduled to join the work in phases, we had subjected them to RT-PCR tests before allowing them to enter the Ratha Khala. The ones, who had tested positive for Covid-19, were kept in isolation for 10 days. By Jagannath’s grace, all of them have fully recovered from the infection and have joined the work,” Ajay Kumar Jena, temple’s administrator (development), said. The temple administration also created a bio-bubble at Ratha Khala to ensure a more secure and Covid-free environment for the carpenters.
The temple officials said around 60% work of the three wooden chariots has been completed so far. The carpenters and other workers, whose remuneration has been doubled this year, have been working for more than 10 hours a day.
The chariots are expected to be ready two or three days before the Rath Yatra. The height of the Taladhwaja chariot of Lord Balabhadra is 45ft and has 14 wheels, Nandighosha of Jagannath is 45.6ft with 16 wheels and Devidalan of Goddess Subhadra is 44.6ft with 12 wheels. As per tradition, the carpenters use 742 pieces of wooden logs of different species for the construction of Jagannath’s chariot, 731 logs for Balabhdra’s chariot and 711 logs for Subhadra’s.
“The major work, involving the fixing of the wheels to the axles, is complete. The Chaka Dera and Diga Nirnaya of the three chariots have also been completed. The Bindha Khodei work on the Garagara, two for each chariot, along with the construction of Jokha, seven for each chariot are over. The Dhamaka Chaupata work is in its final stage. The construction work of ‘Sinhasana’ and ‘Prabha Apasara’ has commenced,” a temple official said.