Renowned Indian celebrity chef Vikas Khanna, who unveiled the majestic stone artwork replicating the Konark Sun Temple at Times Square, New York, on the occasion of India’s 77th Independence Day, landed in Odisha on Wednesday and paid a visit to the Sun Temple.
“Touching the soil of Odisha with all my love & gratitude. Went to honor & meet the creators, coordinators, organizers & inspirers who made the Konark Wheel in New York a milestone in history of India in America. The World should witness the magic of Konark in Honor of our ancestors who created one of the greatest arts in human history. Jai Ho Odisha,” he tweeted after landing in Odisha.
The entrepreneur and celebrity chef was accompanied by celebrated sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik during his visit to Konark Temple. He took a tour of the Sun Temple and could not stop praising the timeless sculpture of Odisha and appreciated the artists for their splendid craftsmanship.
Speaking to OTV, Vikas Khanna said, “It is due to the blessings of my countrymen that so many artisans, New York City, Indian government came together to make it happen. This could not have been possible without everyone uniting for the cause. Today, I’m astounded by the iconic chariot with 24 wheels and feel extremely grateful to have got a chance to witness it in person.”
“It is our pride that the artwork of the 13th century Sun Temple is a testament to the architectural grandeur of Odisha and the brilliance artistic skills of our great grandfathers which no one can ever replicate,” he added.
Sand artist Sudarsan who had accompanied Vikas Khanna also said, “I was also in the USA when Vikas Khanna ji displayed the iconic Konark Sun Temple replica in Times Square, New York. The display brought a lot of appreciation for Odisha and showcased Odisha’s timeless sculpture to the whole world.”
“It is our honour that he has himself visited Odisha and visited Konark Temple once again,” Pattnaik added.
Notably, Khanna earned praise for his endeavour to install the replica of the Konark Temple wheel at Times Square in August this year, bringing Odisha's rich heritage to the international stage. Announcing the installation of the architectural marvel, Khanna stated that 'billions of eyes worldwide will be on Odisha."