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.
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.
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.
Best sand artists from Mexico, Spain, Singapore, France, Norway, Germany, Netherland, USA and different states of India usually grace the golden beach of Chandrabhaga.
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.
This year’s themes are sports (Hockey world cup), heritage, environment, women’s empowerment and cultural fairs & festivals.
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