Artist builds Daru Sagadi on Puri beach

Odisha Channel Bureau Puri, May 18: Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has created a sand sculpture of Daru Sagadi of Lord Jagannath for the Nabakalebara festival on the Puri beach in Odisha on Monday.He sculpted an 8ft long of a Daru Sagadi and Lord Jagannath with a message `Thaka Mana Chala Jiba, Chaka Nayana Dekhiba.Pattnaik used about seven tonnes of sand and also some colour to build this sculpture.Daru Sagadi is a cart by which the Daru (holy Neem tree) is carried to Sri Jagannath temple and it is pulled by the devotees. Lord Jagannath’s Daru Sagadi, which started its journey from Kharipadia village in Jagatsinghpur district, is expected to reach Puri on Wednesday.“Previously I had also created some sand sculpture on Nabakalebara at Puri beach and at New York Travel Fair.During this period of Nabakalebara, I will create different sand sculptures on different occasions,” said Pattnaik. Pattnaik has so far participated in more than 50 international sand sculpture championships and festivals around the world and won many prizes for our country.