Sudarsan Pattnaik’s Bal Gopal Sand Art Mesmerizes Puri Beach on Janmashtami
The sacred shores of Puri Beach turned into a vibrant canvas of devotion as Padma Shri awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik unveiled an 8‑foot sand sculpture of Bal Gopal (Little Krishna) to mark Janmashtami 2026.
Crafted with the support of students from the Sudarsan Sand Art Institute, the sculpture depicted Krishna with his flute, a large makhan handi, and a cow, surrounded by 101 miniature handis symbolising his childhood love for butter and curd.
The artwork carried the festive message “Happy Janmashtami” and drew large crowds of tourists and devotees.
Pattnaik extended wishes for peace, happiness, health, and prosperity, emphasising Krishna’s eternal values of love, compassion, and harmony.
Adding to the celebrations, sand artist Manas Sahu created a sand animation of Lord Krishna, completed in about an hour, offering a creative tribute to the festival.
The twin creations highlighted Odisha’s rich sand art tradition and reinforced Puri Beach’s reputation as a hub of cultural and spiritual festivity.
