📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Dr Priyadarshini Bhattacharjee
Religion
Pencil Shavings Sculpted into Mother Durga in Gaya, Bihar
✍️ Amar Ujala · Gaya
🗓 11 Oct 2026, 06:36 PM
👁 11
In Gaya, Bihar, a devotee has fashioned a representation of the goddess Durga using discarded pencil shavings, showcasing a unique form of worship through recycled material.
Gaya, a historic city in Bihar's Gaya district, became the focus of local attention after a handmade figure of the Hindu goddess Durga was displayed, crafted entirely from used pencil shavings. The sculpture, assembled from the tiny wooden fragments that remain after sharpening pencils, reflects a personal act of devotion that also underscores concerns about waste reuse.
The creator, whose identity has not been disclosed, collected the shavings over time and arranged them to form the traditional iconography of Durga, complete with her characteristic weapons and lion mount. By employing a material typically regarded as trash, the artist turned an everyday by‑product into a sacred image, inviting observers to reconsider the value of discarded objects.
Local residents and visitors have responded positively, noting the ingenuity of the piece and its symbolic message about environmental consciousness within religious practice. Community members have taken photographs and shared them on social media, further amplifying the story of how faith and sustainability can intersect in a small town setting.
The Durga figure now resides at a public spot in Gaya, where it continues to draw curiosity and admiration, serving as a reminder that devotion can inspire creative solutions to everyday waste.
The creator, whose identity has not been disclosed, collected the shavings over time and arranged them to form the traditional iconography of Durga, complete with her characteristic weapons and lion mount. By employing a material typically regarded as trash, the artist turned an everyday by‑product into a sacred image, inviting observers to reconsider the value of discarded objects.
Local residents and visitors have responded positively, noting the ingenuity of the piece and its symbolic message about environmental consciousness within religious practice. Community members have taken photographs and shared them on social media, further amplifying the story of how faith and sustainability can intersect in a small town setting.
The Durga figure now resides at a public spot in Gaya, where it continues to draw curiosity and admiration, serving as a reminder that devotion can inspire creative solutions to everyday waste.