Puri: Renowned sand artist and Padma Shri awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik paid tribute to innocent tourists who lost their lives in a shooting incident at Australia’s Bondi Beach by creating a poignant sand sculpture on the Puri beach in Odisha on Monday.
Through the large-scale sand art installation, Pattnaik condemned acts of terrorism and violence against civilians, particularly the targeting of tourists at popular destinations across the world. Referring to recent incidents, including the shooting at Bondi Beach following the Pahalgam episode, the artist highlighted how indiscriminate firing by terrorists led to the loss of nearly 10 lives and left several others injured.
Using nearly four tonnes of sand, Sudarsan Pattnaik crafted the sculpture to convey a strong message against violence, inscribing the words “Stop Terrorism” as a call for global peace and humanity. The artwork served as both a tribute to the victims and a protest against terrorism that continues to claim innocent lives.
Visitors and locals at the Puri beach gathered to witness the sand sculpture, which stood as a visual reminder of the human cost of terror and the urgent need for collective efforts to end such acts worldwide.









