Sudarsan Pattnaik Wins Inaugural Fred Darrington Award for Sand Sculpture Excellence
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Sudarsan Pattnaik wins the first-ever Fred Darrington Award for Excellence in Art and Culture |
| Award Details | - Launched: To mark 100 years since Fred Darrington's first sand sculpture in 1925, at Weymouth Beach. <br> - Purpose: Honors exceptional sand sculptors for their cultural and artistic contributions. |
| Sudarsan Pattnaik's Work | - Sculpture: 10 feet tall sand sculpture of Lord Ganesha with the message "World Peace". <br> - Exhibition: Showcased at SandWorld in Weymouth, Dorset until November 2025. <br> - Tokens Received: A gold medal with Darrington's caricature and a glass wave containing sand from his sculpture. |
| Fred Darrington's Legacy | - Started: Sand sculpting in 1925 on Weymouth Beach. <br> - Family Connection: His grandson, Mark Anderson, co-founded SandWorld in 2011 and presented the award to Pattnaik. |
| Sudarsan Pattnaik's Journey | - Background: Padma Shri awardee, began sand sculpting in Puri, Odisha, and now runs a sand art academy in India. <br> - Cultural Impact: Conveyed a message of world peace through his Lord Ganesha sculpture. |
| Recognition | Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi, congratulated Pattnaik for his global achievement, highlighting its impact on India's cultural heritage. |