This year, just like the previous year, Rath Yatra will be held without devotees. But that has not distanced the Lord from his devotees who find ways to connect. Priyanka Sahani lives in Bhubaneswar and is a software engineer by profession. She has pledged to create 108 miniature paintings of Lord Jagannath & His siblings ahead of the Rath Yatra this year. Priyanka has so far, skillfully painted the Lord’s image on 84 miscellaneous items such as almonds, jackfruit seeds, kidney beans, nutmeg, banana, cinnamon stick, chewing gum, nails, oreo biscuits, neem leaves and much more. Priyanka says that she had learnt the art from her late father, Bibekananda Sahani and after her father’s demise; she had accepted the Lord as her father.
While sharing anecdotes from her life, Priyanka reminisced that while painting, she often feels that the Lord is watching her and her paintings. She says that she feels His presence in everything; which inspired her to make these micro paintings on all kinds of objects. Priyanka says that she wishes to take her devotion for the Lord further and would continue doing so forever.