Puri: Bhoi sevayats are the unsung heroes of the rath yatra. These sevayats work as labourers dealing with the entire process of chariot making and beyond.

Their job begins on from Akshaya Tritiya and continues for two months. Seventy-five of them provided assistance this year, most of them students.

Ratnakar Bhoi and his family has been performing the exercise for generations. Prior to him, his elder brothers had carried out the tradition.

"Our job is to provide labourers for the construction of the chariots and also to carry logs of wood to the place where the chariot are constructed," he said. All the wood for the construction of the chariots are provided by them. But they responsibilities do not end with that.

"Before the day of the rath yatra, when the accessories to the chariots such as the horses and other sculptures are put up, it is our job to carry them to the chariots," he said.

When the chariots are required to be stopped, the Bhoi sevayats on the chariots, drop the wooden logs from the chariots using the chain and pulley.

Each of them are paid Rs 400 a day for their work but money is not what inspires them to carry out these responsibilites.

"It is a matter of pride for us to have got this opportunity to serve the Lord. Every time I do this, I feel a strength of a different sort has come into me. It takes me into a state of trance," said Ratnakar.

This was Pintu Bhoi's first time as a servitor. The student says that he has dedicated himself to the Lord for the job.

"During the festival, nothing else matters apart from providing my services to the Lord. My family members have already done this and I am really happy to be able to do it this year," he said.

"There is a special process that one has to go through to become a sevayat. Selected members of our family get this chance to ensure that the tradition continues," said another Bhoi servitor, Aju.