Renowned sand artist and Padma Shri awardee Sudarshan Pattnaik has been invited by the Culture Department of Uttar Pradesh to participate in the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22.
Pattnaik, known for his Lord Ram-themed sand sculptures, expressed his gratitude for the invitation, considering it a blessing to be part of the auspicious event. He plans to collaborate with eight of his students for a sand art creation during the ceremony.
Pattnaik, a Padma awardee, has actively participated in over 65 international sand sculpture championships, using his art to address global issues such as HIV/AIDS, global warming, plastic pollution, environmental conservation, counter-terrorism, and COVID-19.
His commitment to social awareness is reflected in the impactful themes he selects for his sand sculptures. In October, amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict, Pattnaik created a ‘praying for peace’ sand sculpture at Odisha’s Puri beach in solidarity with the people of Israel affected by the Hamas terror attack.
