Vinay Kalachar, son of noted sculptor N G Kalachar, with the idol of Ram Lalla that will be exhibited in front of a Ram Temple in the USA.
Credit: Special arrangement
Holalkere (Chitradurga): A replica of Ayodhya’s Ram Lalla idol sculpted by Vinay Kalachar, son of a noted sculptor from N G Halli in Holalkere taluk, and a software engineer by profession, will be exhibited at the Ram Mandir in Washington DC, USA on February 1.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad built a Ram Mandir in America and inaugurated it in February 2023. The replica of the Balarama (Ram Lalla) created by Vinay will be exhibited during the anniversary celebrations of this temple on February 1. More than 1,000 devotees residing in America are expected to participate in the programme and the Ram Lalla idol will be the main attraction.
Family of sculptors
A software engineer working in the US, Vinay has continued his family’s tradition of sculpting idols. His grandfather was a sculptor in Mysuru palace. His father N G Kalachar and brother Babu Charan are also sculptors. Vinay does this in his spare time. The 6.2 ft Ram Lalla’s idol made by him is similar to the one made by Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj. Vinay has made it using wood, mud and Plaster of Paris.
“My father Kalachar is a famous sculptor and has received Shilpakala Academy, Jakanachari and Rajyotsava awards. The tableaux exhibiting Bahubali Mahamastakabhisheka prepared by him won the first prize at the Republic Day Parade in Delhi. I want his art to continue and so I make these art pieces in my free time,” says Vinay.
He said that he prepared the idol in a month’s time. The idol depicts 15 deities including Dashavatara, Garuda, Vishnu and Suryadev, he added.
It can be recalled that during the inauguration of the Ram temple in February 2023, a replica of the Ram temple created by him was displayed. Also during the Akka Sammelan, a 12-feet statue of Bhuvaneshwari Devi created by him was displayed.