Introduction:
Walking along the beach has always left an unforgettable impression on our mind, whether its because of the natural and serene beauty of the sun setting into the ocean or long, unending stretches of sand along the coast, speaking of which, how can we let go of our creativity when we have infinite ways of expressing it by shaping out the enormous deposits of sand? We can build a castle, dig a pit, or maybe just a weird pile sand that looked cooler within our head. Now imagine using the same pile of sand and creating a jaw-dropping sculpture of a deity, or sending a message to the entire world, which can change our perspective on any serious issues. This is the world of sand art of Odisha, where creativity entwines with culture and where the beach turns into a stage.
The Magic on the Shores of Puri :
Odisha, a state known for its rich cultural heritage, whether it’s the staggering amount of temples or the intricate designs on the textiles and tribal art forms. But when someone stroll across the beach in Puri, they might stumble upon something exceptional and giant sculptures, completely made of sand, with a diversified series of depictions, some of which are gods, some global icons, and various other things that you would not imagine witnessing on a beach, including rockets, tigers and other wild animals, along with the scenes from mythological accounts to commemorate something or the headlines from media channels to convey any message. What makes these arts special is their impermanence, which can either be caused by a strong gust of wind or a robust wave, making it disappear forever. But maybe, that’s what makes this an art with impact, which exists purely within the moment, while fading away in another.
Sudarshan Pattanaik: The Unparalleled Maestro of Sand Art
Every conversation revolving around sand art in Odisha is incomplete without mentioning the legend himself- Padma Shri Sudarshan Pattanaik. As a boy hailing from Puri itself, Sudarshan didn’t grow with any kind of art supplies or fancy training, but his passion and patience towards sand art developed from his very childhood, which led him turning a whole lot of sand into exquisite and intricate canvas of art, which although is temporary in nature, but certainly makes an impact. The most amazing part about Sudarshan’s art is the way he turns each of it into a conversation. One day, one will find him making a sculpture of Lord Jagannatha for Ratha Yatra, while on the next day, he’ll be found making a tribute to the victims and survivors of a global tragedy or spreading awareness about global pollution. The messages he conveys through his art are quite powerful, the core of which is just sand and water.
The Very Essence of a Sand Sculpture
Creating a sand art is not just someone playing with dirt and soil, but a delicate artistic expression, which take years of patience and passion to master. The process begins with a bit of exploration, where finding the finest quality of sand grain, which then, is mixed with just right amount of water, so it would stick together. When the grains get stuck together, comes the carving process, when the artists use spatulas, brushes, knives and even their hands to carve everything from the tiniest curls of the hairs to the huge elephants, which, then takes us to the colouring stage. As a matter of fact, only chalk colour or natural dyes can be used, to make the art sustainable for our environment. It’s not just the art will turn out great if natures decides to play villain here, else the results are absolutely stunning.
More than Just Sculptures
What really sets sand art of Odisha stand apart is the depth of meaning that each of the art conveys. The artists don’t just create beautiful arts, but also use their skills to create a deep message for the spectators. There are a multitude of themes, which are displayed in these sand arts, such as the spiritual and religious themes, which often depict various scenes related to Lord Jagannatha, and also epic heroes like Krishna and Rama. Other than that, social messages are also conveyed through sand art, to make people aware about problems related to climate change, girls’ education and the notions of equality and justice. But the thematic boundaries are not just limited to these, but also the contemporary events, be it a world cup win, a natural disaster or International Women’s Day, there’s a high chance that the beach in Puri has a sand art ready.
To witness this artistic magic, there are some few special events which occurs every year, notable among which are: International Sand Art Festival in Konark, which is held in the month of December near the Sun Temple, where sand artists from around the world to display their skills. Another one is during the Rath Yatra in Puri, where the beach comes alive with numerous devotional sculptures. Lastly, you’ll also find these sculptures during public holidays and weekends and headlines.
The Future of Sand Art and Why It Matters
Sand art is not easy to carve. It completely depends on the weather and on the top of everything, it’s not an easy path for the young artists to make a career out of sand arts, but with the support from the organizations like Odisha Tourism, art lovers and mentors like Sudarshan Pattanaik are changing the scenario. Apart from that, workshops, festivals and even sand art schools are rendering support to nurture the next generation and who knows, when might the next pioneer of this art form will rise, carving out many fascinating images on the sand with a stick.
In this world, where people are indulged in screens and scrolling, sand art traces us back to the reality, reminding us the that beauty doesn’t have to last forever to have a meaning per se. And sometimes, a sculpture that washes away into the sea can make a bigger impact than the one that is framed inside the glass. So, the next time you’re paying a visit to Odisha, especially to Puri, try to take a walk along the beach, where you can witness the stories on the sand, you might be able to see a message that you needed to hear, which is further sculpted by hand and shaped by the sea.
Sources & Further Reading