Say No To Single-Use Plastic: Sand Artist Sudarshan Pattnaik’s Ganesh Chaturthi Art Comes With A Message

Bhubaneswar: Internationally acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has created a sand sculpture of Lord Ganesh with 1000 plastic bottles around it at Odisha’s Puri beach to give a message against single-use plastic to save the environment. Created on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, the sculpture carries the message “Say no to single-use plastic” and “Save our environment” composed on it.

Mr. Pattnaik said he decided on the theme after being inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign to shun single-use plastic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a clarion call against single-use plastic in his Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast and his address to the nation on the Independence Day, the renowned artist from Odisha said.

Stating that his creation is aimed at making people aware of the ill effects of plastic on the environment, Mr. Pattnaik said plastic, if not recycled, takes up to a thousand years to decompose creating health hazards.

On the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, I want to appeal to the people not to use single-use plastic to save our environment, said the renowned artist.

Also Read: Home Minister Amit Shah And Other Political Leaders Lend Support to PM Narendra Modi’s ‘Say No Plastic’ Campaign

The 10-ft high sand sculpture of Lord Ganesh was created by using 5 tonnes of sand, while about 1000 plastic bottles were installed around it, he said.

Mr. Pattnaik further recalled that he won the People’s Choice award at the Boston International Sand Art Championship 2019 held in Boston where he showcased his sand sculpture based on the global issue of plastic pollution.

The Padma awardee has represented India in more than 60 international sand sculpture championships and festivals around the world and won many prizes for the country. Most of his sand creations are based on important social issues aimed at creating awareness in society, he said.

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swachh India campaign lends support to the Government of India’s Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). Helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan, the campaign aims to spread awareness about hygiene and sanitation, the importance of building toilets and making India open defecation free (ODF) by October 2019, a target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when he launched Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in 2014. Over the years, the campaign has widened its scope to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and menstrual hygiene. The campaign has also focused extensively on marine pollution, clean Ganga Project and rejuvenation of Yamuna, two of India’s major river bodies.