Chhatrapur: Subhasmita Panda of Chhatrapur in Ganjam district has earned a place in the National Book of Records by sculpting a 15-inch-tall wax replica of Lord Jagannath in just 45 minutes during this year’s Rath Yatra. Her remarkable artistic feat has brought pride and recognition to Ganjam district and Odisha, showcasing her creativity, skill and dedication to art.
Subhasmita is a final-year meritorious student in the Electrical Engineering department in Parala Maharaja Engineering College in Brahmapur. Alongside her studies, she has won 3 national-level and 1 international-level gold medal for her paintings.
She is also the author of three English books. A multi-talented personality, Subhasmita had previously drawn attention for her literary works as well. In 2025, she had earned a place in the India Book of Records by publishing two English books within just 11 weeks.
She expressed that her deep devotion to Lord Jagannath and immense love for art enabled her to accomplish this unique feat. Subhasmita’s father, Surendra Kumar Panda is an advocate, and her mother, Mamata Rani Panda is a homemaker.
The continuous support and inspiration of her family played a major role in helping her achieve this success. This unique achievement of hers will undoubtedly inspire today’s youth to remain dedicated to their goals and bring global recognition to their region through art and creativity.