Sambalpur: Kshetraraipur-based Natraj Club in Odisha’s Sambalpur has crafted a 26-foot Ganesh idol made entirely of apples to mark its Golden Jubilee celebration.
Around 1,500 kg of apples have been used for creating the idol.
Remarkably, the idol is being crafted using around 1,500 kg of apples without professional artisans. A dedicated group of 15–16 club members, all local businessmen, have been working for over two months on this vision conceived three years ago. “It took us more than two months to bring this idea to life. Since it’s our 50th year, we wanted to do something extraordinary,” IANS reported, quoting senior club member Gopal Pansari.
The club is known for crafting idols from unique materials like bananas, laddus, and coconuts, each carrying a theme or social message. This year’s apple idol promotes health. “After the celebration, we plan to distribute the apples to the needy,” another member, Shiv Kumar Rathi, said.
Notably, all expenses are shared voluntarily by the members, avoiding donations or fixed budgets.
