Puri, Aug. 23 : On the occasion of Ganesha Chaturthi and the 10-day festivities ahead, noted sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik has made an image at the Puri beach to evolve devotion and spread public awareness on global warming.

Patnaik has sculpted a 40 feet-long Ganesha and a tree on His palm alongside a message ''''Reduce Global Warming'''' written next to the idol.

To spread general awareness and make this sand image of Lord Ganesha, Patnaik and his team have used around 70 tonnes of sand.

"We are conveying a message of climate change through the sand idol as Ganesha is highly revered here in Orissa. That''''s why we have shown a tree in Ganesha''''s palms to encourage people to plant more trees. Climate change has affected the entire globe and people are talking about it and its effects," said Sudarshan Pattnaik in Puri.

Patnaik hopes that the message conveyed through highly revered Lord Ganesha will motivate people towards environment conservation.

A large number of tourists visit the famous Puri beach. They are appreciating the artist’s effort to utilise a religious occasion for spreading social awareness on issue like global warming.

"He (Sudarsan Patnaik) is a good and renowned sand artist of our country. I felt great after seeing his work of art and it''''s helping to create the festive atmosphere and we have also become a part of it," said Jaideep Barman, a tourist.

Patnaik is today known not just in India but also across the world for his unique themes and captivating sand images. (ANI)