Bhubaneswar, September 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Padma Shri awardee and renowned sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik created a sand art installation featuring thousands of diyas on the beaches of Odisha on Thursday to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 76th birthday.
Extending his birthday wishes to PM Modi, Patnaik said India has been witnessing progress in infrastructure, technology, the economy and culture under the Prime Minister’s leadership.
Speaking about India’s growing presence on the global stage, Patnaik said the country has drawn attention from world leaders as well as people across the world because of its development and progress.
He credited initiatives such as ‘Make in India’ and other government programmes with contributing to the country’s development.
“As an artist, I would especially like to say that the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi is promoting art and artists is a great example for the art world. Whenever the Prime Minister visits another country, he showcases India’s culture and art to the world. Similarly, when foreign guests visit India, they are also introduced to our rich art and culture. He has also done a lot for artists. I have been watching and following his work since he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat,” Patnaik said.
The sand artist recalled meeting PM Modi on occasions when he received awards and said the Prime Minister’s encouragement had left a lasting impression on him.
“As an artist, whenever I won an award, I had the opportunity to meet him and receive his encouragement. He told me to keep winning for the country and that we would keep meeting. His encouragement and sentiment towards a young artist meant a lot to me,” he said.
Patnaik added that recognition and encouragement from the Prime Minister can motivate young achievers to continue working for the country.
“When young people achieve something for their country and the Prime Minister himself congratulates and supports them, it greatly encourages them. This inspires them to move forward and do even better,” he said.
Patnaik also pointed to initiatives in art, culture and tourism, including campaigns focused on cleanliness and the preservation of beaches.
“I myself am a sand artist and travel to different parts of the country to convey various messages through sand art. The ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ and the campaign to keep beaches clean, launched by the Prime Minister, have also had a significant impact,” he said.
According to Patnaik, such efforts have increased awareness about beach cleanliness across the country, while several beaches have received Blue Flag certification.
“Considerable efforts have been made to encourage people to keep beaches clean. This has helped create a distinct image of India in the world,” he said.
Citing the PM Vishwakarma Yojana, Patnaik said government support for small artisans and craftsmen had provided them with opportunities to expand their work.
“I believe this is also a very important initiative,” he said.
Patnaik said the impact of various initiatives could be seen across the country, from villages to major cities, and that they had encouraged artists, artisans and other sections of society to pursue their work and explore new opportunities.
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