Bhubaneswar, July 26: President of India Droupadi Murmu on Thursday honoured renowned international sand artist and Padma-awardee Sudarshan Pattnaik for his recent achievement of winning the Golden Sand Master Award at the International Sand Sculpture Championship in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Pattnaik's winning sculpture featured a 12-foot Sand Ratha (chariot) carrying Lord Jagannath and his devotee Balaram Das, a 14th-century poet, which earned him a gold medal.
The championship, held from July 4 to 12, focused on themes of history, mythology, and fairy tales. Pattnaik was the sole representative from India among the 21 master sand sculptors from around the world.
With a career spanning over 65 international sand art competitions and festivals, Pattnaik has brought numerous accolades to India. He is known for using his sand art to raise awareness on a variety of social issues, including HIV/AIDS, global warming, terrorism, plastic pollution, COVID-19, and environmental conservation.
