Puri: Renowned sand artist and Padma Shri awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik created a 10-foot-high installation of Goddess Durga at Puri Sea Beach on Friday, blending sand with 32 varieties of fruits and vegetables to mark Durga Puja.
The distinctive artwork, carrying the festive greeting “Happy Durga Puja”, was created using around eight tonnes of sand and took five hours to complete. It featured 22 varieties of vegetables and 10 varieties of fruits, including oranges, apples, grapes, bananas, cucumbers, lemons, okra, bitter gourd, beans and carrots.
Pattnaik was assisted by students of his Sand Art Institute in creating the installation, offering an innovative artistic expression of the festive spirit.
“Every year, we try to create something different through our sand art installations. Through my art, I pray to Goddess Durga for peace and prosperity,” Pattnaik said.
Through his creation, the artist sought to combine tradition and creativity while conveying a message of peace, harmony and prosperity.
Pattnaik has participated in more than 65 international sand sculpture championships and festivals, winning numerous awards for India. He has also used his art to raise awareness about social and environmental issues, including HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, global warming, terrorism, plastic pollution and environmental conservation.
