Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik pays tribute to President Droupadi Murmu on her birthday
Puri, June 20
Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik paid a special tribute to President Droupadi Murmu on her birthday on Saturday.
He created a striking sculpture of President Droupadi Murmu, accompanied by a "Happy Birthday" greeting etched into the sand.
Speaking to ANI, Sudarsan Pattnaik shared, "Today is the birthday of the President Droupadi Murmu... It is a momentous day for Odisha and the entire nation that the Prime Minister is participating in the celebrations alongside the President... We pray that Lord Jagannath continues to bestow his blessings upon her.."
Earlier in the day, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Pahadpur village in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, in a joint engagement in the tribal-dominated region of the State.
The President and the Prime Minister offered prayers at the sacred grove, Santhali.
The visit comes against the backdrop of a major development push in Odisha, where the Prime Minister also participated in a programme at Rairangpur marking the completion of two years of the State government. The theme of the programme was "Vikas ra Dhara, Odisha Sara".
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is wonderful! President Murmu ji has broken so many barriers as the first tribal woman President. Sudarsan's sand sculpture is a fitting tribute. But I also hope the focus remains on real development for tribal areas, not just photo opportunities. Actions speak louder than sand art.
As a fellow Odia, I feel immense pride seeing both President Murmu and sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik getting national recognition. The joint visit of PM and President to Mayurbhanj shows the government's commitment to tribal welfare. "Vikas ra Dhara, Odisha Sara" - this development wave is touching every corner of our state.
Beautiful sand art! But honestly, the timing of PM joining President's birthday celebrations feels more political than personal. We need genuine development in tribal areas, not just events. However, Sudarsan's work is always amazing and he deserves applause for keeping this traditional art form alive.
As someone who visited Puri last year, I've seen Sudarsan's work firsthand. Truly world-class talent! This tribute to President Murmu is touching. It's great to see India celebrating its first tribal President with such warmth. The PM's presence shows unity at the top.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.