Berhampur: Artisan Satya Maharana of this town is yet again in news for constructing a miniature of ‘Nandighosh’ (the chariot that carries Lord Jagannath). Maharana claims that it is the smallest in the world.
The chariot which is 2.5 inches in height and two inches wide has been included in the National Records Sector. The Guinness Book of Records has given its consent to give it a special tag, Maharana informed.
The chariot has 16 wheels, four horses, two parrots, chariot top and a flag. The height of Lord Jagannath placed inside the chariot is only one centimetre and that of the ‘sarathi’ (charioteer) 1.5 centimetres. It weighs eight grams in total. Maharan took four days to construct the latest miniature version of the Nandighosh.
Maharana, who was born in Sorada, has been trying his best to popularise the car festival and the rituals associated with Lord Jagannath to every nook and corner of the world.
Maharana first attempted to create miniature wooden chariots in 2016. At that time, he made ‘Nandigosh’ having a height of 14 inches and nine inches wide, followed by ‘Taladhwaja’ (13.5 inches high and 8.5 inches wide) and ‘Darpadalan’(12.5 inches high and six inches wide). His creations had then been registered in the India Book of Records.
In 2017, his 8.5 inches height and five inches wide ‘Nandighosh’ was included in Global Book of Records and World Record Sector. Another creation of 4.5 inches high and three inches wide was included in Asia Pacific Record, Global Book of Records, National Records and World Records of India in 2018.
PNN