Eco-Friendly Rath Yatra Chariots Crafted from Areca Palm Leaves
Jatni-based miniature artist L. Eswar Rao has created three eco-friendly Rath Yatra chariots, each just five inches tall, using areca palm (supari) leaves.
The idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra were carved from neem wood, each less than an inch in height.
Rao dedicated seven days to complete the intricate set, underscoring that devotion is measured not by size but by sincerity.
He extended wishes for a blessed Rath Yatra, praying for health and peace for all.
The nine-day festival includes key rituals: Hera Panchami (July 20), Bahuda Yatra (July 24), Suna Besha (July 25), and Niladri Bije (July 27), when the deities return to the sanctum of Shree Jagannath Temple.
