How sand artists are creating new designs on the beaches

Topical themes and global attention have helped Odisha make sand art uniquely its own

As you land in Odisha’s capital city of Bhubaneswar, you are greeted by an elegant piece of sand sculpture at the airport’s arrival hall. This installation, put up by Odisha Tourism, indicates the popularity of this art form in the State. Sudarsan Pattnaik is, of course, the most visible name from the world of sand art, whose works have become a huge attraction for tourists visiting Odisha’s famous Golden Triangle — Puri-Konark-Bhubaneswar. This, in fact, encouraged the State government to launch an annual international Sand Art Festival seven years ago. Like Odissi, sand art has now become a unique part of Odisha’s identity. Puri, the land of Jagannath, is known as the cradle of the 700-year-old art form. It is said that legendary Odia poet Balaram Das, who lived in Puri in the 14th century and authored Dandi Ramayan, was an ardent devotee of Jagannath. However, he was not allowed to climb up the chariot of Jagannath to offer prayers during the Rath Yatra because he belonged to a lower caste.