Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday met Puri king Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb in his palace and discussed preparations for the upcoming Rath Yatra, scheduled for July 16.“I made a courtesy visit to the Gajapati Maharaja. During our meeting, we discussed various matters including Rath Yatra preparedness,” Majhi wrote on X.Puri MP Sambit Patra, who accompanied the chief minister, said the talks also touched upon Puri’s overall development. “The chief minister noted down several proposals of the Gajapati Maharaja regarding Jagannath Temple development and enhancement of the darshan system. He assured that the govt is committed to ushering in all-round development of Puri,” Patra told reporters.Patra added that the CM hinted at convening a high-level meeting after Rath Yatra to deliberate on temple and darshan-related issues.Before meeting the king, the chief minister reviewed the progress of chariot construction at Ratha Khala near the palace, personally interacting with carpenters engaged in the work. “I carefully listened to the artisans’ opinions and understood their requirements, and stressed the importance of completing the chariot construction with precision, discipline, and on time,” Majhi wrote.Majhi said his govt is committed to ensuring all necessary support for their convenience, safety, and the smooth construction of the chariots. “By the grace of Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannath, may this year’s Rath Yatra be completed peacefully and in a devotional atmosphere,” the CM added.The artisans welcomed his visit. “This is the first time a chief minister came to our workplace and took stock of the work. He was impressed by our traditional methods and was keen to know the procedures,” said Bijay Mahapatra, chief carpenter of Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosh chariot.Nearly 200 artisans, including carpenters, Bhoi servitors, blacksmiths, woodcutters, tailors and painters are engaged in building the three chariots. Around 865 giant wooden logs are being used to construct Lord Jagannath’s 45.6 ft-high Nandighosh, Lord Balabhadra’s 45 ft-high Taladhwaja, and Devi Subhadra’s 44.6 ft-high Darpadalana chariot.Despite advanced technology, carpenters continue to use traditional methods, relying only on handspans and sticks for measurement. “By Lord Jagannath’s grace, we have never failed,” Mahapatra added.
