Odisha artist creates mini chariots for Lord Jagannath using matchsticks ahead of Rath Yatra

Ahead of Rath Yatra, Odisha’s L Eswar Rao has crafted miniature sculptures of three chariots using matchsticks, with idols of three deities, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and their sister Subhadra, placed inside them. The chariots are 4.5 inch tall.

L Eswar Rao from Jatni village in Odisha’s Khurda district is a popular miniature artist. Earlier, he had crafted a miniature sculpture of a man performing yoga on a pencil nib, on International Yoga Day, which is celebrated on June 21. Now, ahead of Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri, Rao has come up with miniature sculptures of three chariots using matchsticks, with idols of three deities, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and their sister Subhadra, placed inside them. The chariots are 4.5 inch tall. Rath Yatra is scheduled to begin from July 12 in Odisha’s Temple City Puri. L Eswar Rao has been practicing this miniature art for the last 25 years since he was in school. Whether it is creating the World Cup trophy on a pencil nib or making a tiny sculpture of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel using a soap bar, Rao never misses an opportunity to sculpt fascinating things.