Miniature Artist L Eswar Rao Creates Tiny Chariots for Rath Yatra in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar-based miniature artist, L Eswar Rao, has crafted eco-friendly chariots of the holy trinity Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra using paper and incense sticks. These chariots were made ahead of the world-famous Rath Yatra, which will take place on July 7.

The deities sitting inside the chariots are made from tamarind seeds and the chariots themselves are only two inches tall. Rao completed this intricate work in seven days. He has been practicing miniature art for the last 25 years, creating fascinating pieces like the World Cup trophy on a pencil nib and a tiny sculpture of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel using a soap bar.

Details of the Miniature Chariots

Rao explained, “To mark this year’s Rath Yatra, I decided to craft miniature models of chariots of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra using papers and incense sticks. It took me seven days to complete them with decorative stars. I used tamarind seeds to make the deities.”

The idols of the deities are only half a centimetre long, and the chariots are two inches tall from top to bottom.