June 5, 2025,
Sudarsan Pattnaik, an internationally recognized sand artist and Padma Shri awardee, constructed a spectacular sand sculpture on Puri beach to demand for immediate and collective action to combat plastic pollution. Pattnaik's thought-provoking artwork brought this year's Environment Day topic, #BeatPlasticPollution, to life, captivating the attention of thousands of bystanders and online users.
The artwork depicted a big plastic bottle trapping marine life, with a message imploring people to take action now to save the earth from the escalating plastic disaster. The sand art used vivid colors and evocative imagery to highlight the devastating effects of plastic trash on oceans, wildlife, and human health. Pattnaik stated at the ceremony, "Plastic pollution is one of the most serious threats to our environment." Through my paintings, I hope to promote awareness and inspire people to take modest but significant actions toward reducing plastic use, reusing whenever possible, and supporting eco-friendly alternatives."
Pattnaik has traditionally used sand art to convey environmental and social messages. This year, his work received both national and international attention, with images of the sculpture extensively shared on social media under the hashtags #WorldEnvironmentDay2025 and #BeatPlasticPollution. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which organizes World Environment Day every year, has frequently warned of the hazards of plastic pollution. According to recent figures, more than 400 million tonnes of plastic are manufactured worldwide each year, with much of it ending up in landfills, rivers, and oceans.
