Late mother comes alive at twin daughters’ wedding as silicon statue, leaves brides in tears

Real estate developer Piyush Patel of Ranipara village in Jhagadiya taluka of Bharuch district decided to surprise his twin daughters Drushti and Shrusti at their wedding on February 6, with a statue of his wife Daxaben who died on December 21, 2021.

Patel got the statue made secretly and kept it on a stage at the wedding venue in Ranipara village.

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The marriage ceremony of twin sisters of a Patel family in Bharuch district turned an emotional event when a life-size silicon sculpture of their late mother was unveiled and made a part of the wedding rituals on Monday.

Real estate developer Piyush Patel of Ranipara village in Jhagadiya taluka of Bharuch district decided to surprise his twin daughters Drushti and Shrusti at their wedding on February 6, with a statue of his wife Daxaben who died on December 21, 2021.

Patel got the statue made secretly and kept it on a stage at the wedding venue in Ranipara village. After the guests turned up, Patel climbed on the stage holding his daughters’ hands and unveiled the statue of a smiling Daxaben dressed in finery, making the brides teary-eyed. The sculpture was later placed on a chair when the marriage rituals were held.

Talking to The Indian Express, Piyush Patel said, “The marriage of our daughters were fixed when Daxaben was alive. Their wedding was her dream… So when the marriage preparations were going on, I thought of something to fill her absence.”

Through his friend, Sanjay Bhatt, Patel contacted artist Vibha Patel in Vadodara to make a sculpture of Daxaben. “We shared her photographs and gave her two months’ time. But I did not tell anyone about it. Today, seeing the statue, everybody felt that Daxaben personally came to bless our daughters… I did not want anyone to miss her.”

Sculpture artist Vibha Patel, who did fine arts at the MS University in Vadodara in 2006, took help from her teacher Sanjay Rajawar, to sculpt the statue.

Vibha, who did not reveal the expense involved in making the sculpture, said, “It was a challenge as the family’s sentiments were attached… The sculpture is made of silicon and fibres. We made the structure first in the standing posture and later molded it for sitting posture. We made the structure first with clay and later molded and had done casting with silicon. If proper care is taken, it will last for years.”

Kamal Saiyed

Kamal Saiyed is a senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, providing extensive, on-the-ground coverage from Surat and the broader South Gujarat region and the Union territories of Daman, Diu & Dadra Nagar Haveli. With a reporting career at the publication spanning back to 2007, he has established himself as a high-authority voice on the industrial, social, and political pulse of one of India’s fastest-growing urban hubs. Expertise Industrial & Economic Beat: Based in the "Diamond City," Saiyed offers expert reporting on the diamond and textile industries. His work tracks global market shifts (such as De Beers production changes), local trade policies, and the socio-economic challenges facing the millions of workers in Surat’s manufacturing hubs. Civic & Infrastructure Coverage: He consistently reports on urban development and public safety in Surat, including: Traffic & Urban Planning: Monitoring the city's 13-fold increase in traffic violations and the implementation of new municipal drives. Public Safety: Investigative reporting on infrastructure failures, fire safety NOC compliance in schools and commercial buildings, and Metro rail progress. Political Reporting: Tracking the shifting dynamics between the BJP, Congress, and AAP in South Gujarat and the neighboring Union Territories (Daman, Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli). Crime beat: Armed with a good source network Saiyed has been able to bring out the human side of crime stories in his region ... Read More

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