Sand Artist Sudarsan Pattnaik Wishes ‘Janmashtami’ To All With This Sculpture

Bhubaneswar: Internationally acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created an idol of Lord Krishna with sand to convey his best wishes to the people on the occasion of Janmashtami.

Pattnaik took to Twitter to post the picture of his sand art at the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar. “Warm wishes to all on the occasion of Janmashtami. May Lord Krishna bring peace and love in everyone’s life,” he wrote.

Significance of the auspicious occasion

Janmashtami is celebrated when Lord Krishna is believed to have been born according to Hindu tradition, which is in Mathura, at midnight on the eighth day of Bhadrapada month.

Celebrations in Odisha

In Odisha, specifically the region around Puri, people celebrate Janmashtami by fasting and worshipping until midnight. The ‘Bhagavata Purana’ is recited from the 10th chapter, a section dedicated to the life of Lord Krishna. The next day is called ‘Nanda Ucchhaba’ or the joyous celebration of Lord Krishna’s foster parents Nanda and Yashoda.

The devotees fast during the entire day of Janmashtami. They bring water from Ganga to bathe Radha Madhaba during their ‘abhisheka’ ceremony. A grand ‘abhisheka’ is performed at midnight for the small Radha Madhaba.