Puri: Servitors are busy preparing giant rakhis to be offered to Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra at Puri Jagannath Temple on Friday.The rakhis — said to be around two feet in diameter with a specially crafted thread measuring 10-12 feet in length — are being prepared by Patara Bisoi servitors using Basunga silk in vibrant shades of red, yellow, blue and violet.Servitor Santosh Kumar Patra said preparation of the giant rakhi is a hereditary seva performed by his family for generations. “We are only the medium. It is Mahaprabhu who gets the rakhi prepared through us. We feel blessed to have the opportunity to serve him. It would be among the largest,” Santosh said.The rakhis are made using traditional techniques. Basunga silk is first dyed with natural colours and dried in the sun before being cut into prescribed sizes. The strands are then carefully woven and arranged into a five-layer structure.As per temple tradition, Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra wear two rakhis each on the occasion. Jagannath culture researcher Naresh Dash said the tradition symbolises the sacred bond between siblings and conveys the message of love, protection and responsibility.
