Puri: He is not a traditional carpenter of Srimandir but his love for Lord Jagannath has prompted him to engage himself in the construction of chariots at the Rath Yard here.
Narottam Das, a believer in Vaishnavism, has been assisting the traditional carpenters of Srimandir in chariot construction for last four years.
Das’s tryst with the Rath Yard began during the Nabakalebara festival of Srimandir deities in 2015. “I had an opportunity to observe the chariot construction after paying a visit to Srimandir in 2015. Soon, I decided to work at Rath Yard. A Maharana servitor had introduced me to Krushna Chandra Maharana, the chief carpenter of Darpadalan chariot of Devi Subhadra,” said Das who hails from a carpenter’s family in Rairakhol.
According to Das, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and all the senior carpenters of Srimandir allowed him to work at Rath Yard after knowing his love for Lord Jagannath.
“My father was a skilled carpenter. I had learned carpentry under his personal supervision. But, I had left home a few years ago and started residing in a mutt at Rairakhol,” said Das.
Das usually reaches the Holy City ahead of the Akhaya Trutiya every year and engages himself in chariot making from day one. “Authorities of a local mutt have allowed me to stay in a room for two months during the chariot construction. I return to Rairakhol after watching the Bahuda Yatra of Srimandir deities,” Das claimed.
Like any other ardent devotee of Lord Jagannath, Das starts his work at Rath Yard after paying obeisance to Srimandir deities every day. “I have a special interest to watch the Chandan Yatra of deities at Narendra pond in the evening after completing my work at Rath Yard every day. I will engage myself in chariot construction ahead of the annual car festival till the last day of my life,” Das said.