10-year-old Bhubaneswar boy rewrites Ramayana in Odia during COVID-19 lockdown

While people found different ways to spend time inside their homes during the COVID-19 lockdown that was imposed in March last year, a 10-year-old boy from Bhubaneswar was busy rewriting the Ramayana in Odia.

Ayush Kumar Khuntia has rewritten the epic after watching the television series during the lockdown. He named the epic "Pilaka Ramayana" (Ramayana for children) having 104 pages in his mother tongue, Odia.

"During the lockdown in the month of March, I was asked to watch Ramayana episodes on television by my uncle, and later to write something on it," Ayush told news agency ANI.

"I watched Ramayana telecasted on DD channel and wrote each episode in Odia in my notebook. It took me two months to complete the book," he added.

Ayush further said, "I have written several golden moments in Ramayana like Lord Ram leaving his home for 14 years in exile, and Devi Sita's abduction by Ravana from Panchavati forest. I also explained how people of Ayodhya welcomed Lord Ram after 14 years of exile."

He urged everyone to have a habit of reading and writing to reach new heights in life.

(With ANI inputs)