Tributes to Bismillah through sand art

Puri, Aug 21 (UNI) Renowned sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik today created a sand image of shehnai maestro and Bharat Ratna recipient Ustad Bismillah Khan, who died in Varanasi early today.

'It was painful to hear that Ustad Bismillah Khan is no more,' the international sand artist said while paying tributes to the departed soul by erecting a sand structure of the great musician with his shehnai.

People in large numbers thronged the beach to pay tributes to the great maestro.

Mr Pattnaik had earlier created sand arts on the Puri beach to pay tributes to the tsunami and earth quake victims of the country.

He had also done sand arts on the endangered Olive Ridley Turtles and to spread awareness of the dangers of HIV-AIDS.

The sand artist had so far participated in more than 29 international sand sculpture championships across the world and won many laurels for the country.

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