Latest news with #BalabhadraPatri
Time of India
28-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Chariot wheels develop cracks hampering pulling
1 2 Kendrapada: The chariot of Baladevjew temple could not reach Mausima temple, 2 km away, Saturday because four out of 14 wheels of the 65-ft-high chariot developed cracks. On Friday, the chariot, 'Bramahataladhawaja', was pulled for only 10 metres. During chariot pulling on Saturday, spokes of some wheels broke down partially and the chariot leaned towards the left side. Engineers and carpenters failed to repair the wheels. Chariot pulling is likely to resume Sunday. "Engineers are trying their best to repair the damaged wheels and lift the chariot using machines," said Balabhadra Patri, the executive officer of Baladevjew temple. He said this year only four new wheels were built while the rest were repaired due to shortage of good quality wood. "Though chariot building starts on Akshaya Tritiya, this year we started much later on May 23 because the forest department failed to provide the wood in time," said Patri. Forest department provided 760 cubic feet of sal wood for the chariots. "Wheels developed cracks due to poor quality of construction," said Ganesh Suar, a priest of the temple. "The temple authorities used old timber to build the wheels as a result many wheels developed cracks. Chariot pulling has been delayed by two days," said Pramod Dash, another priest. Also, authorities failed to evict encroachers around the Baladevjew temple for smooth movement of the chariot, said Mahendra Dash, a priest. The Baladevjew temple was built by king of Kujang Raja Gopal Sandha during the Maratha rule in Odisha in 1761 at Ichapur in Kendrapada town.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Baladevjew temple procures wood from Keonjhar to build state's 2nd biggest chariot for Rath Yatra
Kendrapada: Kendrapada administration has recently procured 760 cubic feet of sal wood from the forest department of Telkoi in Keonjhar for constructing chariots for Rath Yatra celebrations at Baladevjew temple next month. "We paid only Rs 11,621 as royalty amount to the Keonjhar forest department for procuring the wood," Balabhadra Patri, the executive officer of the 300-year-old temple. The proposed 64-ft-high rath, expected to be the state's second biggest wooden chariot after the one in Puri temple, will be built by around 45 carpenters. "Out of the chariot's 14 wheels, we will build four new wheels and use old 10 wheels. We will also use old timber of the chariot to build some portions of the rath," Patri added. "The construction work of the three chariots in Puri began on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya on April 30. Our chariot construction has been delayed for three weeks due to the delay in the arrival of sal wood from Keonjhar. We will start the construction work on May 23 and all artisans are determined to complete the work before Rath Yatra on June 27," he said.
