Young Odisha artisans’ unique Jagannath and Ganesha idols earn praises

Puri: Two young artisans from Odisha received appreciations from across the State for their marvelous craftsmanship.

While Biswajeet Nayak made it to Asia Book of Records for crafting an idol of Lord Ganesha with ice-cream sticks, Saswat Ranjan Sahoo has applied to get a place in India Book of Records.

The 18-year-old Biswajeet is currently pursuing his diploma engineering degree in Electricals in Aryan Institute of Engineering and Technology in Bhubnaeswar. He made an idol of Lord Ganesha with 5,575 ice-cream sticks during Ganesha Chaturthi festival. The size of the idol is 55-inch length and 33-inch width.

He is hopeful to find a place in Guinness Book of Records for the unique idol.

Following his success, the young artist from Kumutipatna village in Puri district has made an idol of Goddess Durga with 375 ice-cream sticks during Dussehra festive season.

Earlier this year, he had made it to the India Book of Records for building a tiny chariot of Lord Jagannath using 2,575 ice-cream sticks.

On the other hand, Saswat Ranjan Sahoo from Puri district has earned praises from different quarters for making an attractive idol of Lord Jagannath with matchsticks.

Sahoo, a native to Kumbharapada area in Puri district made the idol of Lord Jagannath using 7881 matchsticks. He completed the 17-inch-long and 15-inch-wide idol just in 21 days.

The purpose of building the idol with matchsticks is to send our grievance to open Jagannath Temple for devotees in a time when all other temples have been opened, Sahoo said.

He has applied to the India Book of Records for acknowledgment from the concerned authorities.