It’s the story of the massive wooden chariots that carry Lord Jagannath and his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra through the streets during the Rath Yatra.
These are not just vehicles. They are moving sanctums, built from scratch every single year by hand, without nails or blueprints—driven solely by faith, ancestral knowledge, and devotion.
From Forest to Faith: Sacred Wood and Ritual Precision
The construction of the chariots begins months before the festival. The process kicks off with ‘Agyan Mala’, a ceremonial garland sent from the Jagannath Temple to mark the divine approval to begin work.
The wood used is not ordinary—it comes from specific trees like phassi, dhausa, and simili, chosen from protected forests. Each tree is worshipped before being felled, and the logs are transported with reverence. The timber is treated as living material, embodying the divine.
The transformation from log to chariot is a spiritual journey in itself.
Built by Devotion, Not by Machines
The chariots are handcrafted by a community of hereditary carpenters called ‘Maharanas’, who come from specific families that have performed this duty for generations. Using traditional tools and no iron nails (only wooden pegs and joints), they build the three majestic raths:
Nandighosa for Lord Jagannath (16 wheels)
Taladhwaja for Lord Balabhadra (14 wheels)
Darpadalana for Devi Subhadra (12 wheels)
Each chariot has a specific height, color scheme, flag, and even guardian deity. Every element is rooted in ancient scripture—the Shilpa Shastras—and passed down orally over centuries.
Despite the pressure of time and the sheer scale of construction, the artisans work in rhythm, often singing bhajans as they carve and assemble. It’s not just labor—it’s a sacred offering.
More Than Wood: Aesthetic Symbols & Sacred Geometry
The final chariots are decorated with:
Brightly colored canopies stitched by temple-designated tailors
Sacred insignia and motifs like lotuses, lions, and chakra wheels
Huge wooden horses that “pull” the chariots, carved with expressive detail
Ornamental carvings of celestial beings and guardians
Each design tells a story. Every brushstroke of paint is a prayer.
And when the chariots are finally ready, they stand like giants on Grand Road (Bada Danda), awaiting their divine passengers—ready to roll through the streets as temples in motion.
The making of Jagannath’s chariots is more than religious heritage—it is India’s living example of how spirituality and craftsmanship can co-exist, forming a lifestyle of ritual discipline, intergenerational learning, and deep ecological respect.