Sudarsan Pattnaik Recalls When PM Modi’s Jai Jagannath Chants Worked Wonders For Him In Foreign Land

Can chants of Lord Jagannath cure ailment? Certainly, says renowned sand artist Sudarsan Patnaik with tears in his eyes and heart full of devotion. When the international sand art competition was underway in Moscow, Russia, Sudarsan Patnaik experienced one of the most divine moments of his life.

Just when the sand maestro landed in the foreign land, he caught fever. The fever was so severe that he was unable to even move his fingers. The sand competition organization committee was getting an ambulance ready for the artist. And Sudarshan was remembering the call when he received invitation for the competition. 

He remembered that he had proposed ‘Lord Jagannath’ as the theme of his art. Just when he started questioning his commitment and his eagerness to showcase his devotion for Lord Jagannath on international platform, he heard ‘Jai Jagannath’ chants.

Prime Minister Modi was on a visit to Russia and he along with people of Indian diaspora was chanting Jai Jagannath.

The ‘Jai Jagannath’ chants filled the veins of Sudarshan with enthusiasm and the rest is history. He created a 12-ft high sculpture where he depicted Lord Jagannath sitting on his chariot and his devotee Balaram Das. He won the Golden Sand Master Award and gold medal at the International Sand Sculpture Championship.