Bhubaneswar: Renowned miniature artist L Eshwar Rao has once again mesmerised art enthusiasts with his latest masterpiece, featuring the Holy Trinity of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra, along with Lord Sudarshana, all crafted meticulously inside a 200 ml plastic bottle.
A resident of Gopinathpur Hatabazar in Jatni town of Puri district, Rao annually creates unique artworks to celebrate the Rath Yatra festival. This year’s creation showcases four idols made from chalk, each measuring less than an inch in height. These miniatures are placed on elaborately designed stone thrones, measuring 2.5 inches in height and 2 inches in width. Behind the idols stands a 5-inch replica of the Rath Yatra chariot, crafted from papercraft. The entire piece took Rao five days to complete.
In a video statement, Rao expressed, “Every year, I create a new artwork for Rath Yatra. This year, I chose to use a plastic bottle as a base, highlighting my craftsmanship within limited space. My intention is also to spread awareness about the harmful effects of single-use plastics. Devotees visiting Puri often discard plastics carelessly, leading to pollution.”
“Though I have used materials like papercraft, chalk, and matchsticks in previous years, this year I have incorporated plastic to emphasise the need to avoid it. I appeal to everyone to refrain from using single-use plastics and keep the holy city clean,” he added.
