This Ganesh Puja, people of Jharsuguda would get to see a replica of the Puri beach, which would be erected on an area of 2,700 sqft.
Friends Club, a Puja Mandap at Jharsuguda, has decided to have a replica of the beach to outdo other Puja committees in the district.
The replica is being built by the famous international sand artist Padma Shri awardee Sudarshan Patnaik. Coming for the first time to the industrial town of Jharsuguda, Patnaik would showcase his sand sculpturing art.
“I am very happy to be associated with the organizers of this Ganesh Puja Mandap of Jharsuguda. As our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a dream of having a clean India, industrially resurgent India (Make in India) and safety and promotion for women (Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao), so at this mandap I have tried to send these social messages to everyone in the country through my art and I hope all my fans and followers would visit at this place to witness this. Around 50 tons of sand, which has been brought from Puri, has been used in creating this sculpture,” said Patnaik.
The organisers of Friends Club’s Ganesh Puja Committee, who are known for celebrating the Puja every year by means of unique decoration, have also planned to erect a replica of the Kedarnath Temple made up of eco-friendly materials like leaves and cardboard as well.
“We have always been celebrating Ganesh Puja in a very unique way since 1993 and this year too, we have planned to do something different. We had been planning this event since long back but we were unable to get time of Sudarshan Patnaik due to his busy schedule. I personally thank him for giving his precious time for the people of western Odisha, who would get a chance of witnessing his internationally acclaimed sand sculpturing in Jharsuguda itself,” said Friend’s Club president Ajay Poddar.
He added, “As there are no beaches in western Odisha, a replica of Puri beach has been specially crafted showcasing Patnaik’s craft.”