New Delhi: Internationally acclaimed sand artist from Odisha, Sudarsan Pattnaik, unveiled his latest sand art at Puri beach on World Environment Day on Sunday. The beachside installation, that depicts a figure of a woman as an embodiment of Mother Earth, also carries a powerful message that reads ‘Only One Earth’. The model has been designed as the face of a woman, symbolising the earth, surrounded by the Indian subcontinent, painted in green.
Taking to his Twitter handle, Pattnaik wrote, “#WorldEnvironmentDay My SandArt at Puri beach in India with message “We have #OnlyOne Earth & we need to take care of her not just for us but also for our future generations.”
It is to be noted that Sudarsan Pattnaik is a renowned sand sculptor, best known for his topical artwork. He has also represented India in dozens of international championships, bringing home as many as 27 titles.
The World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5 every year to urge people to protect nature from widespread environmental damage.
The World Environment Day is marked by governments, private organisations, civil society as well as individuals in a bid to protect the environment.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the nodal agency that organises and supports all events across the world. This day was celebrated for the first time in the year 1974.
On the World Environment Day, several events are organised around the theme set by the UNEP in order to promote community involvement for the cause.