Paradip, Dec. 18: A Bargarh magician has sought permission from the Archaeological Survey of India and the state culture department to perform magic on the Jagannath temple in Puri and the Sun temple at Konark.

He claims he has illusory expertise to make these temples disappear for 15 seconds.

Badasha Khan, 26, has awed the audience here with his tricks and illusions. He said: "I want to showcase my illusory skills by making the Puri temple and the Konark temple vanish, if I am given the permission."

Khan said magic shows were on the decline and there were few magicians in the state.

"The art can be revived through extraordinary acts. I have attained the proficiency to perform 'disappearing' acts but the only constraint is money. I have written to the Archaeological Survey of India and state culture department to sanction permission and provide funds. To perform such illusory acts at least Rs 3 lakh will be required," Khan said.

The magician said he had offered to donate the funds generated from his temple "act" to the chief minister's relief fund.

"Renowned magician P.C. Sorcar Junior had made the Taj Mahal and elephants on the stage disappear. I can do the same with the Puri and Konark temples, but I need support from the government agencies," he said.

Khan favourite acts include "chopping a boy and a girl into pieces" and making a man levitate. The audience was mesmerised when Khan seemed to saw a woman into half and later made her disappear into a box.

Khan said magic was a strong medium to create awareness and scientific curiosity among people. However, he said, he was worried about the declining popularity of magic.

Khan said there were very few takers for the art in Odisha. In Odisha, there are only two to three magicians who were earning a living by performing stage shows. Many magicians had discontinued and are looking for other means of living, he said.

Khan said magic was not a government-recognised art such as dance, music or painting.

"In many states, magic has been accorded the status of fine art. However, that is not the case in Odisha. We need to recognise the art form so that young magicians in the state find the courage to take it up as a profession," Khan said.