In Pics: Celebrating Sand Sculptures at Odisha’s Sand Art Festival

Visuals from the Sand Art Festival this year.

(Photo Courtesy: Odisha Tourism)

The International Sand Art Festival started in Odisha’s Bhubaneswar on 1 December and ends on 5 December.

Set against the pristine Chandrabagha beach, the International Sand Art Festival’s theme for the first day was around the ongoing Hockey Men’s World Cup being held at Bhubaneswar.

This year’s themes were the hockey world cup, women’s empowerment, heritage, environment and culture.

The Sand Art Festival is part of the 30th Konark Festival that opened with the performance by renowned Odissi Guru Durga Charan Ranbir and group.

It celebrates sand sculptures but not just the traditional sand sculptures. You may expect sand, stone, bronze or wood, to be used by the artists.

A women’s empowerment themed sand sculpture.

The International Sand Art Festival celebrates the displays of sand artists from India and from many other countries.

As many as 30 Indian and 10 foreign artists participate in this competition-turned-festival.

Women’s empowerment designs saw some detailed artworks by artists.

Best sand artists from Mexico, Spain, Singapore, France, Norway, Germany, Netherland, USA and different states of India usually grace the golden beach of Chandrabhaga.

Day 4 of the International Sand Art Festival witnessed sand art from various sand artists on the theme of women’s empowerment.

A sand sculpture for the men’s hockey world cup, going on in Bhubaneswar.

The International Sand Art Festival was started in 2015 on the Chandrabhaga beach, a short distance from Konark. It was a part of the Konark Dance Festival that is organised during the same time.

Every year, the theme for the artists hover around burgeoning issues in the world.

A French contestant hard at work, putting together his design.

This year’s themes are sports (Hockey world cup), heritage, environment, women’s empowerment and cultural fairs & festivals.

A hand with a leaf on it. The theme for this is ‘environment.’

A French artist makes a turtle on sand.