Kavaratti (Lakshadweep) [India], In a great display of religious harmony, ex-servicemen, who are Muslims by faith, have made idols of various Hindu deities for devout soldiers in Lakshadweep. PP Cheriyakoya, a former soldier from Lakshadweep, is an example of righteousness. Unity in the island, being Muslim by faith, made statues of Hindu gods for devout soldiers
Former soldier PP Cheriyakoya created the idol of Lord Hanuman at Andharot Island and Lord Ganesha at Kavaratti temple following a request from the Madhya Pradesh Special Force posted there in the 1970s. The 79-year-old man is also a war veteran. Fought during the 1971 war. After that, he became a professional artist and also worked as an art teacher
Speaking to ANI, Cheriyakoya said, "In 1972, Madhya Pradesh Special Forces soldiers wanted to perform puja.He requested me to make the idol of Lord Hanuman and I did it happily. I am happy that they were able to worship God. Similarly, I made a statue of Ganesha after receiving a request from Lord Kavaratti, who made me crazy, "I have not learned sculpture in any school. My father used to do carving work and he learned it by observing them carefully. I Carving is more fun than painting.Shailendra Singh Parihar, special secretary posted in the Lakshadweep administration, said Cheriyakoya has contributed to promoting religious harmony "Kavaratti is the capital of Lakshadweep and has only one Hindu temple. In 1978, the Kavaratti temple was established by the Madhya Pradesh paramilitary force. On the demand of the soldiers, PP Cheriyakoya, who was in military service, also made an idol of Lord Ganesha in Kavaratti. This has contributed to promoting religious harmony in the island, where all religions live peacefully. Temple priest Chittaranjan Mishra also thanked Cheriyakoya for his contribution.Mishra is an Indian Reserve Battalion Force soldier working as a priest at the Karvatti temple. "The temple was inaugurated by the MP Special Force in 1978. Then the IRB took over the way we celebrate all festivals. The idol of Ganesha was made by Cheriyakoya as no sculptor was present there, but he volunteered. Made sculptures,” he said.
Former soldier PP Cheriyakoya created the idol of Lord Hanuman at Andharot Island and Lord Ganesha at Kavaratti temple following a request from the Madhya Pradesh Special Force posted there in the 1970s. The 79-year-old man is also a war veteran. Fought during the 1971 war. After that, he became a professional artist and also worked as an art teacher
Speaking to ANI, Cheriyakoya said, "In 1972, Madhya Pradesh Special Forces soldiers wanted to perform puja.He requested me to make the idol of Lord Hanuman and I did it happily. I am happy that they were able to worship God. Similarly, I made a statue of Ganesha after receiving a request from Lord Kavaratti, who made me crazy, "I have not learned sculpture in any school. My father used to do carving work and he learned it by observing them carefully. I Carving is more fun than painting.Shailendra Singh Parihar, special secretary posted in the Lakshadweep administration, said Cheriyakoya has contributed to promoting religious harmony "Kavaratti is the capital of Lakshadweep and has only one Hindu temple. In 1978, the Kavaratti temple was established by the Madhya Pradesh paramilitary force. On the demand of the soldiers, PP Cheriyakoya, who was in military service, also made an idol of Lord Ganesha in Kavaratti. This has contributed to promoting religious harmony in the island, where all religions live peacefully. Temple priest Chittaranjan Mishra also thanked Cheriyakoya for his contribution.Mishra is an Indian Reserve Battalion Force soldier working as a priest at the Karvatti temple. "The temple was inaugurated by the MP Special Force in 1978. Then the IRB took over the way we celebrate all festivals. The idol of Ganesha was made by Cheriyakoya as no sculptor was present there, but he volunteered. Made sculptures,” he said.
