Bargarh: Devotion and art need little to be expressed, by anyone. To support the same young devotee from Odisha created mini chariots. A 22-year-old pharmacy student from the Bargarh district has built three mini chariots, which are replicas of the huge ‘Raths’ of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra.
With these chariots, the young girl, Srutilekha Purohit intends to express her devotion and love for the Holy Trinity and mark the grand Rath Yatra festival. Purohit, 22, is a native of Pahandi village in the Bijepur block of Bargarh district.
The youngster’s talent has become a talk of the town, with visitors flocking the Purohit household in Pahandi to catch a glimpse of the miniature Chariots of the Lords.
The main structure of the chariots was made from waste or unused materials such as discarded cardboard, bamboo sticks, old newspapers, etc.
According to Purohit, the expenditure was very minimal as decorative items and acrylic paint were used, apart from waste materials. It took her 25 days to complete the three chariots.
“The miniature structures measure 30 cm in height and 18 cm in width. The chariots symbolise my devotion to the Lords. I tried my best to recreate the majestic Raths of Puri in a small form,” said Purohit.
Rath Yatra is one of the principal festivals of Odisha was celebrated sans devotees in 2020 and 2021, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The village Pahandi was no different, and its inhabitants were deprived of celebrating Rath Yatra for the last two years.
“This year is going to be a grand event. Both at Puri and in our district as well as Bijepur block. Apart from our regular celebrations, a visit to witness the beautiful and divine Raths sculpted by our village daughter will be a major attraction,” a group of elders at Pahandi said.
