Bhubaneswar, May 2: The auspicious occasion of Akshay Tritiya was celebrated across the state in various ways on Friday.

While the residents of Bhubaneswar bought gold and other jewellery on the occasion, people in other parts of the state observed it as a religious and harvest festival. In Puri, preparations for the rath yatra began today.

Traditionally, on Akshay Tritiya, three logs of soura wood were consecrated and the carpenters, who make the three chariots for rath yatra, began their work after a series of rituals and special ceremonies known as ratha anukula.

“The three 12ft logs of soura katha were brought to the ratha khala area near the Jagannath temple where the construction of chariots started after getting the garland of permission or aagyan mala from the deities of the temple followed by special rituals conducted by the temple priests,” said Laxmidhar Pujapanda, information officer of the Jagannath temple.

Another major event in Puri that begins on Akshaya Tritiya is the chandan yatra. During this 21-day summer festival of Lord Jagannath, the representative deity Madan Mohan, along with consorts Sridevi, Bhudevi the Panch Mahadevs (also known as Panch Pandavas), namely Lord Yameswar, Lord Kapal Mochan, Lord Lokanath, Lord Markandeya and Lord Nilakanth, take a trip on a chapa (a traditional boat) around the ancient Narendra tank as part of the water sport called chapa khela. This is hosted in two sessions, one during the day and the other at night.

However, due to delay in the repair and preservation work of the tank, temporary arrangements were made to observe the festival, like last year.

“The water level of the tank declined because of the repairs that are on and we had to make temporary arrangements for the annual chandan yatra festival. This year, too, the work has not finished. Hence, we have arranged for a jetty that has been decorated like the traditional chapa boat and we are hosting shorter trips for the deities this year,” said Pujapanda.

Apart from Puri, villages hosted festivities wherein the Ghadi Patuli or a pot of sweetmeats was distributed to children in the neighbourhood for the welfare, good health and good fortune of the family. Temples and mutts in many parts of the state organised mass public feast of bhog or food offered to gods and goddesses. The day was also celebrated as Lord Parsuram’s birthday. Farmers worshipped Mother Earth for a good harvest and sowed seeds ceremonially in what is called Muthi Chhuan or Muthi Anukula or Akhi Mutha.

In cities, people were seen buying property, gold or new utensils on the occasion since it is considered fortunate. There were plenty of gold buyers at the city stores with the rate coming down to about Rs 28,800. “We have special discounts on making charges and other offers to attract customers,” said a jeweller of a store at Sriya Square in Bhubaneswar.