PM Modi praises Sudarsan Pattnaik for his ‘Bali Yatra’ sand art at India Maritime week in Mumbai

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met renowned sand artist and Padma Shri awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik during the India Maritime Week 2025 celebrations at NESCO Grounds in Goregaon, Mumbai. The meeting turned into a heartwarming moment as the Prime Minister stopped to admire Pattnaik’s stunning sand art depicting India’s ancient maritime legacy through the famous “Bali Yatra” theme, titled “Odisha to Indonesia: Voyage of Heritage.”

PM Modi not only appreciated the artwork but also patted Pattnaik on the back, commending his creativity and contribution to promoting India’s cultural heritage. The Prime Minister’s warm gesture reflected his deep respect for artists who use their craft to tell India’s timeless stories.

Also Read: Sudarsan Pattnaik pays sand art tribute to Zubeen Garg at Puri beach

A Bond Beyond Art

This wasn’t the first time the acclaimed artist and the Prime Minister had shared such a special moment. On January 23th 2024, during the commemoration of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s 127th birth anniversary at the Red Fort, PM Modi had greeted Pattnaik with the words “Jai Jagannath”, leaving the artist overwhelmed. Pattnaik’s sand sculpture of Netaji on that occasion had also earned high praise from the Prime Minister.

India’s Vision for a Maritime Future

At the India Maritime Week, PM Modi inaugurated several key initiatives for the shipping and shipbuilding sectors, emphasising the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, India’s roadmap to becoming a global maritime powerhouse.

Art Meets Vision

The meeting between PM Modi and Sudarsan Pattnaik beautifully symbolized the union of India’s cultural roots and its forward-looking vision, a reminder that the nation’s journey toward progress continues to be guided by both heritage and innovation.

Sudarsan Pattnaik on Meeting PM Modi

“It was a proud and memorable moment to meet Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji at the India Maritime Week in Mumbai,” said Padma Shri Sudarsan Pattnaik, renowned sand artist from Odisha. “When the Prime Minister greeted me with ‘Jai Jagannath’ and I had the honour of explaining to him about my sand art on Bali Jatra, symbolizing Odisha’s ancient maritime links with Indonesia. I also shared about Kartik Poornima celebrations and Bali Jatra.”

The Hon’ble Prime Minister highly appreciated Pattnaik’s artwork and his heartfelt representation of Odisha’s maritime heritage. The sand art, measuring 30 feet long and 10 feet wide, was created by the artist at the Odisha Pavilion during the India Maritime Week in Mumbai.

“It was a great honour to represent my state and showcase the culture of Odisha through art,” added Padma Shri Sudarsan Pattnaik.