Cuttack, Sept 26: Bare-bodied, wearing a torn vest over his shoulder, unkempt hair and no slippers on his feet, a young man singing a Hindi devotional song in front of a Ganesh Puja mandap in Nuapada has taken social media by storm.
The 58-second video of Ranjan Swain singing the Hindi devotional song ‘Jai Deva Shri Ganesha’ without any musical accompaniment has garnered more than 6.5 crore views in just two days, turning the daily-wage worker into an overnight Instagram sensation.
From a daily-wage worker to an overnight Instagram sensation!
— Prameya English (@PrameyaEnglish) September 26, 2026
Ranjan Swain’s 58-second, music-free rendition of a Ganesh devotional song has crossed 6.5 crore views in just two days, winning millions of hearts online. #RanjanSwain #ViralVideo #Odisha #GaneshPuja #Instagram pic.twitter.com/QR0GwZUaQC
Ranjan, who hails from Puri, currently lives with his elder brother at Balisahi in Cuttack. A bright student during his school days, he had hoped to pursue higher education after securing good marks in Class 10. He was studying in Bhadrak when tragedy struck—the death of his father during his +2 studies made it difficult for the family to make ends meet.
He subsequently started working through a contractor at a company. Later, due to various circumstances, he left the job and began working as a daily-wage labourer at different places. He has worked in house construction and also operated trolleys to earn a living.
Despite his financial struggles, Ranjan has always had a deep interest in music. Whenever he hears a song, he likes to sing it aloud after memorising the tune. People who hear him sing often appreciate his talent and sometimes offer him money or food.
Earlier Video Had Also Gone Viral
Ranjan had come to Cuttack last year as a labourer to push a thela during the Khudurukuni Visarjan. There, he got an opportunity to sing with a musical band. A video of his performance subsequently went viral on social media and was liked by several Odia actors.
Since then, young people have occasionally recorded his performances and uploaded them on social media.
A few days ago, Ranjan visited the Nuapada fair. While roaming around, he reached the Ganesh Puja mandap organised by the Bighneswar Yuva Parishad and asked for food. A young man named Biplab offered him food.
Grateful for the gesture, Ranjan sang ‘Jai Deva Shri Ganesha’. Biplab recorded the 58-second performance and posted it on his Instagram account. The video quickly went viral, receiving millions of views, likes and shares.
Puja Committees Now Inviting Him
Following the viral video, several puja committees have started inviting Ranjan as a guest. Crowds also gather to take selfies with him.
Ranjan can sing songs in several languages and hopes to showcase his talent at the right platform if given an opportunity.
“I don't know anything about scales or rhythm. I simply remember what I hear and like to sing it,” Ranjan said, describing his ability as a talent gifted by God.
He said the immense love from people has brought changes to his life and expressed gratitude to everyone who has supported him.
