In Bankura, preparations for the upcoming Rath Yatra are underway, and local artist Amitayu Das has crafted a unique idol of Lord Jagannath using tea beans and leaves. The idol, about one foot tall and made entirely of tea materials and glue, stands mounted on a solar board. Amitayu’s creation, which involved no internal framework, took approximately three days to complete, using between 800 grams and 1 kilogram of tea seeds and leaves. The work demonstrates his devotion and respect for Lord Jagannath.
Amitayu, from Rampur in Bankura, has captured the attention of his community, including his father, Sujoy Das, a famous painter and sculptor, particularly impressed by the innovative use of tea in the sculpture. Inspired by his son’s creativity, Sujoy is now contemplating crafting something similar using soap, aiming to finish his project in time for Ultorath.
Aside from his sculptural work, Amitayu Das is also focused on a project involving rickshaw pullers. In an age where faster modes of transportation like toto are preferred, he aims to highlight the rickshaw pullers’ struggles through his paintings, hoping to bring their stories to the forefront of public awareness.
Besides, the temple town of Puri in Odisha is gearing up for one of the largest religious congregations in the world as the Lord Jagannath Ratha Yatra is just days away. The annual sojourn of the divine trinity- Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra- attracts devotees and visitors from across India and abroad to Puri.
According to the Hindu Calendar, Ratha Yatra is held on the Dwitiya Tithi or the second day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashadha. This year, Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri will be held on Sunday, July 7. The nine-day festival will conclude with Bahuda Yatra, or the return journey of Lord Jagannath with siblings, on July 16.
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