Day 5 of Chariot Construction at Rathakhala

• Date: 28.04.2023, Friday
• Location: Rathakhala
• Day 5 of Chariot Construction
• Attendance of Artisans Involved:
• Total Maharana (chief carpenters) for all three chariots – 47
• Bhoi Sevaks for all three chariots – 27
• Karati Sevaks (engravers) – 4
• Pahi Maharana (supporting carpenter) – 1
• Kamar Sevaks (blacksmiths) for all three chariots – 9
• Tumba Binha artisans (specialist workers) – 1
• Rathakhala helpers (water carriers) – 1
• Total: 90 workers
• Progress of Chariot Construction:
• On the fifth day of construction, all the artisans arrived at Rathakhala by 8:00 AM and began their respective tasks.
• By the end of the day, the tumba (cylindrical wooden structures) shaping work for a total of 42 tumbas across the three chariots had been completed.
• Additionally, the Maharana artisans, with the help of the Pahi Maharana, were in the final stages of wrapping the threads (sutā bāḍiā) around the tumbas.
• Moreover, the Karati Sevaks (engravers) handed over two engraved tumba panels to each of the three chariot teams. It is expected that these will be ready for binding by tomorrow.
• By the end of today’s work:
• Out of 16 rounded tumbas for the Nandighosha chariot, 13 had their thread wrapping completed.
• For the Taladhwaja and Devadalana chariots, thread wrapping was completed for 10 additional engraved tumbas.
• Apart from that, the balaka sections (curved parts) of the fully wrapped tumbas are currently undergoing the theka tulia (precision adjustment) process.
• At the temporary blacksmith shed near Dolabedi, the Ojha and Kamar Sevaks (blacksmiths) are cutting iron rods and preparing 6 to 7-inch-long “ar kanta” (metal spikes). Each chariot wheel requires 32 such metal spikes.
• (Note: The chariot construction progress includes two engraved tumbas accompanied by still images and video footage.)