Sand Artist Sudarsan Pattnaik Creates Replica Of Ram Temple On Puri Beach, Says Wanted To Make It In Ayodhya

Celebrated sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik unveiled a replica of the temple on the Puri beach on the eve of the historic Bhoomi Pujan ceremony for the construction of the grand temple of Lord Ram in Ayodhya, reports Hindustan Times.

The five feet tall replica was built by Pattnaik over a span of five hours using over four tonnes of sand.

Pattnaik shared that he had been keen to create a sand sculpture of the temple at Ayodhya during the ceremony itself, but had to do it on the Puri beach because of constraints arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pattnaik also shared that last year, he had travelled to Ayodhya and even conducted a study for this very purpose.

Pattnaik expressed delight over the fact that the temple's construction was set to begin and said, "We are very happy that after a long wait, the temple is going to be constructed. It is a historic day for us."

Pattnaik is a recipient of more than 60 international sand art competitions, having won numerous laurels and prizes for the nation.