Handicraft of Odisha - Sand Art

Odisha is famous for its handicrafts mainly Patta Chitra, , Sand Art, Metal Work, Stone Carving, Silver Filigree, Masks and Puppets running as the life force in the cultural land based in Puri. But it spreads all over the world . The raw material for a sand sculpture is just only clean and fine-grained sand mixed with water, which is carved by Odiya artists. Every year a lot of people gathered to see the sand art festival which is celebrated in puri . The World champion great sand artist Sudarsan Patnaik creat different sand sculptures on different theme and he has also participated in more than 47 international sand sculpture championships/ festivals across the world and won many awards for the country. He created World's Biggest Sand Santa clause with a message Health and Happiness, Peace and Prosperity, which will be around 35 ft high at Puri beach.
The legend of sand art is that once during Rath Yatra, Poet Balaram Das, who is famous for Dandi Ramayan, tried to climb the chariot of Lord Jagannath to offer his prayers but the priests didn't allow him to do so. In frustration he went to Puri sea beach and started carving figures of Lord Jagannath, Devi Suvadra and Lord Balaram with sand and offered his prayers. His devotion for the deities was so immense that it was surprised for everyone. The original statues of the deities were vanished from the chariot and it was seen on the sea beach where Balaram Das offered his prayers. After that sand art was famous in Odisha and across all over world.

Now every year sand art festival is celebrated in the sea beach where people gathered and participate in this festival get name and fame all over world. Odisha is really proud of its great handicraft sand art as well as the great awesome sand artist.