Puri beach turned into a striking canvas of devotion as renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created a 7-foot-high sculpture of Lord Shiva to mark the second Monday of Sawan.
The Padma Shri awardee unveiled the sand artwork on Sunday, capturing the spiritual significance of the holy month through an intricate depiction of Mahadev.
Lord Shiva sculpture captures Sawan devotion
The sculpture features the divine face of Lord Shiva, along with his trident and serpent. A Kanwariya seeking blessings is also depicted as part of the artwork.
The sand installation incorporates elements of the Kanwar pilgrimage, highlighting the traditions and devotion associated with Sawan.
Students from Pattnaik’s sand art institute assisted him in creating the sculpture at the Puri beach.
The artwork also carries the messages “Om Namah Shivaya” and “Bhole Baba Paar Karega”, reflecting devotees’ faith in Lord Shiva’s blessings and protection.
Pattnaik said the artwork was intended to convey a message of faith, hope, peace and harmony with nature.
“May Mahadev guide us through every difficulty and bless everyone with peace, strength, good health, happiness, and prosperity,” he said.
Sudarsan Pattnaik’s global recognition
Pattnaik is known for taking Indian sand art to international platforms. He has represented India at more than 65 international sand sculpture championships, festivals and cultural events.
Through his artwork, the renowned artist has continued to showcase India’s cultural heritage while also using sand sculptures to highlight social and environmental messages.
The latest Shiva sculpture at Puri adds another devotional artwork to Pattnaik’s long list of creations and has drawn attention from visitors at the beach.
