Chennai: A wooden chariot built in Tamilnadu is all set to go around the streets of Ayodhya 2 April to mark the birth of Lord Shri Ram.
The effort to get the chariot redone was undertaken by the Nagarathaar community through the Sri Kasi Nattukkottai Nagara Satram Managing Society.
The artistically made wooden chariot stands tall at 18.5 feet and 9 feet wide, with 8 pillars and has intricate works of 210 idols.
The wooden chariot is the workmanship of the TamilnNadu award-winning sculptor A R K Ekambara Aasari, whose team took a record 66 days to complete the work, a press release said.
The sculpted idols reflect the idols at the temples in similarity. The 10 avatars of Vishnu, Hanuman, Kannan and scenes from Ramayana are captured in the sculpture form.
The Nagarathaar community has been engaged in this ritual for 60 years between 1882 to 1942, which had to be ended post the second world war. The chariot that had been damaged has hitherto been rebuilt after 77 years by the community, the release said.
‘Nagarathaar are known for their honesty, moral virtues and standards. They are also known for their religious virtues and philanthropy. The ritual at Ayodhya was earlier done by the Chathirathaar family from Devakottai, and through the society we have now rejuvenated to continue the ritual after many years,’ said senior advocate and president of the society, Pazha Ramasamy.
The society will celebrate the Ram Navami at Ayodhya 1 and 2 April.
Justice M Chockalingam, Kamala Theatre director VNCT Valliappan and educationist Kuzha Karuppiah will participate.