18-Year-Old Boy Of This City Carves Miniature Replica Of Jagannath Temple In Puri

Berhampur: An 18-year-old boy of the city has carved a miniature replica of Jagannath temple in Puri on wood ahead of the Rath Yatra scheduled on Monday.

The boy, Dilip Maharana of Sana Redikka Sahi, is a first year Plus III Commerce student of Khallikote Autonomous College. The replica of the 12th century temple highlights its ‘Meghanad Pachir’, the main temple, other parts of the temple, Patitapabana flag, Aruna Stamba and others in detail.

It took him more than one month to complete the work. He wants to present the artifact to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Earlier, Dilip had carved a replica of Ram Temple at Ayodhya and an idol of Goddess Durga of an inch in height and bagged Asia Book of Records.

Dilip said his father Bhagaban Maharana, maternal uncle Sanyasi Maharana and brother Manoj Maharana have helped him in carving the temple replica.

“The lockdown due to COVID pandemic helped me devote more time to it. I am really happy and would take up more such projects in future,” he said.