By Santosh Digal

Puri: “Wishing for happiness is a common to all and I wish to communicate to the world that through the creation of at least 1000 sand Santa Clauses,” a noted sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik told Matters India on Dec 29.

Hundreds of tourists flock to Puri during Charismas season from far and wide. Pattnaik wanted to create awareness about “global happiness through sand Santas”.

Together with his 35 students Sudarsan Sand Art Institute at Puri, he sculptured at the Puri sea beach, Odisha, eastern India, on Dec 24, on the eve of Christmas. The Santa festival and will continue till January 1.

Puri is 59 kilometers south of Bhuabneswar, state capital.

The sand Santa Clause festival is an annual feature since 2012, in which he created Limca Book Record of sculpturing 500 sand Santa Clauses.

“This year I wished to set a new world record with 1000 sand Santa Clauses,” Pattnaik said.

According to him it took four days four days and about 1000 tons of sand to carve a thousand sand Santa Clauses.

When asked why Pattnaik chose the symbolism of Santa Claus for this festival, he said, “Santa Clause is a familiar imagery linked to Christmas. He is known for bringing joy to children through gifts. I consider it as an apt way to communicate to the world that we all wish to have happiness in life and work for it consistently.”

Barsa Priyadarshani, 15, one of Pattnaik’s sand art students said, “Being a part of these 1000 sand Santa Clauses gave lots of confidence in her on the art of sand sculpture. More importantly, the theme on creating about happiness in the world was something inspired me much.”

Since Dec 24, hundreds of visitors and tourists—young and old—are flocking to the sea beach to have glimpses of sand Santa Clauses.

After having visited sand Santa Claus festival on Dec 29, Father Ajaya Kumar Singh, a human rights activist, based in Bhubaneswar, said, “Puri is considered to be one of the four sacred pilgrimage places in India for Hindus. It is a holy city known as Govardhan Math, where Swami Nischalananda Saraswati and considered to be orthodox seer.

In this backdrop, the message of Christmas message of happiness for the world through sand arts of 1000 sand Santa is definitely a noble idea of peace and happiness coming from Puri beach. Surely, internationally acclaimed sand artist message opens up the window opportunity for goodwill and harmony among the diverse religions.”

Pattnaik was born in Puri in 1977. He is the youngest of three brothers in his family. His childhood was full of hardships. Pattnaik taught himself the art of sand sculpture.

He started sculpting images on sand since the age of seven and has designed hundreds of sand art.

He established “The Golden Sand Art Institute” which is first of its nature in India. His sculptures include environmental crisis, famous festivals, national integrity and religious tolerance.

Pattnaik has represented India in 50 international Sand Sculpture championship and festivals all around the world. He has won more than 50 national and international awards including the latest one—the people’s choice prize for his sand sculpture titled “Mahatma Gandhi – World Peace” at the ninth Moscow Sand Sculpture Championship 2016.

His sand sculpture on Black Taj Mahal earned him accolades all over the world. He is known for his creative designs and has recorded his name in the World records.

The Government of India awarded him Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India, in 2014 for his contribution in sand arts.