The 14th International Sand Art Festival concluded at the Chandrabhaga beach in Konark on Thursday with artists from India and abroad showcasing their sand sculpting skills.

The stunning display of artistic excellence drew a huge crowd.

Alongside the sand art festival, the 35th Konark Festival also came to an end with an enchanting Odissi performance by Dona Ganguly, wife of former India cricket captain Saurav Ganguly. The day also saw a Bharatanatyam performance being presented in the backdrop of the fabled sun temple. However, it was the Odissi performance by Dona Ganguly and her ensemble from Diksha Manjari, Calcutta, that had the audience mesmerised.

Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik said: “The sand sculptures created by eminent artists across the globe based on themes such as Manabasa Gurubara, Global Warming, and Temples of Odisha.”

Patnaik said: “Eight international sand artists representing Germany, Mexico, Russia, Sri Lanka, Portugal, United Kingdom, Spain and Japan showcased mesmerising sand sculptures.”

Besides the international artists, two national-level sand artists from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were felicitated with the Konark Sand Art Award under the national category. The festival highlighted Odisha’s commitment to fostering creativity and raising awareness through art.

The recital of the group led by Dona Ganguly began with Surya Vandana, a hymn to the Sun God, followed by Mangala Charana Shantakaram, a devotional verse in praise of Lord Vishnu.

The audience was captivated by the intricate footwork and expressive storytelling in Pallavi-Saveri, choreographed by the legendary Kelucharan Mohapatra.

The recital concluded with Durga, a powerful depiction of the goddess as the embodiment of shakti, evoking thunderous applause from the audience.