A priest worships the log to be cut for making the chariots and work is on at Khapuria saw mill in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. Telegraph pictures

Cuttack, April 12: The first log of wood to be used to build chariots for the car festival or rath yatra in Puri was cut at Khapuria saw mill here today on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami.

“Like every year, the work for cutting the wood to be used for the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra began here at the government saw mill in Cuttack,” said assistant administrator (Niti) Puri temple, Bhimsen Mangaraj.

Following tradition, three logs of 12 to 20 feet were sliced after the agyamala was brought from Puri. The logs will be used to build the three chariots — Nandighosa (Lord Jagannath), Taladwaja (Balabhadra) and Darpadalan (Subhadra).

Usually, dhaura, phasi, asana, simili wood are used to build the gigantic wooden chariots that are pulled by lakhs of devotees who converge at the pilgrim town of Puri on the occasion of rath yatra.

This time, 865 logs (2640.27 cubic feet) will be used. However, only 701 logs have been procured from various forests in Nayagarh, Daspalla, and Ranpur as around 100 logs which were left unused last year will be used for this year’s annual chariot festival.

Out of the 701 logs, 327 will be ready for use at Cuttack while the rest would be cut at other places, including Puri. Already 160 logs have reached the city and the rest are expected to arrive soon.

“This is a special occasion for all of us as the timber to be used for the construction of the chariots was sliced here in the city. We have made special arrangements so that we finish the work before they are sent to Puri where the work to build the chariots will begin from Akshaya Trutiya,” said sub-divisional manager, Khapuria government saw mill, Pratap Chandra Moharana.

Since 2005, the logs have been cut into pieces in Cuttack. Following tradition, the three chariots are built anew every year. Nearly 200 carpenters (including assistants) work for 59 days at the Magakhala (in front of the palace) in Puri and chisel the wood for building the chariots, which begins on Akshya Trutiya.