Celebrated sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has created a striking five-tonne sand sculpture on the Puri sea beach, honouring the Indian armed forces for their precision strikes under Operation Sindoor.
The tribute comes in the wake of India’s response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that killed 26 civilians.
The sculpture, standing six feet tall, bears the message “Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Justice Served” and symbolizes how sindoor — traditionally a symbol of sacredness — transforms into a force of strength and justice when protecting the nation.
“We salute the Indian Army and Air Force through our sand art,” said Pattnaik, who was assisted by students from his sand art institute to complete the artwork.
Earlier today, Odisha conducted a civil defence mock drill across 12 strategic locations as part of a nationwide preparedness initiative following heightened tensions with Pakistan. The exercise, overseen by the Ministry of Home Affairs, aimed to test emergency responses and improve coordination from district headquarters to village panchayats.
Operation Sindoor, launched in the early hours of May 7, saw the Indian armed forces strike nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, reaffirming India’s resolve to respond to cross-border terrorism.
