Bhubaneshwar : The artisans in Orissa's Bhubaneshwar city have engaged themselves in manufacturing trophies depicting Hindu mythological stories for the prestigious sports awards.

"I was chosen by the Union Sports Minister from 14 participants to fashion the trophies," said Gajendra Prasad Sahoo, a leading manufacturer and craftsman of the trophies. Sahoo's team has prepared 35 statuettes for the awards this year, which took them about two months to complete.

"We make it in bronze. Firstly we make the statues by using bronze metal and later, while polishing, we are giving it antique effect, so that the award looks antique. My students help me to make these trophies," he added. The trophies are being created considering the mythological stories of India's major epic, the 'Mahabharata'.

"The Arjuna award has mythological importance. The forms of the statue depict the story of the 'Mahabharata'. Arjun, Dronacharya, they are some of the classical forms of our mythological stories. But we are presenting it by re-modifying it.I feel proud while doing this work," said Manas Maharana, another artist.

The Arjuna Awards were instituted by the Government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in national sports. Each award carries cash prize of Rs. 500, 000, a bronze statuette of Arjuna, and a certificate scroll.