International sand art festival can be a tourist draw in Maharashtra
Akshay Kumar – Mumbai
“An international sand art festival in Maharashtra can be a potential tourism attraction,” said Chhagan Bhujbal, minister for tourism, Government of Maharashtra, at a recent event. Speaking exclusively to Express Travel World, Bhujbal said, “Definitely it is a good idea to host an international sand art festival in Maharashtra. We will have some meeting with the concerned people and will decide upon it. I would personally like to have such an event. This is a way we can increase the tourism and entertain the people.”
MTDC along with JSW Foundation, the social development division of JSW group companies with world renowned sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik, offered a unique tribute to legendary singer Manna Dey who passed away early on October 24, 2013. In Girgaon Chowpathy, Pattnaik created a sand sculpture of the veteran singer which was inaugurated by Bhujbal along with Sangita Jindal, chairperson of JSW Foundation.
Commenting on the occasion, Jagdish Patil, managing director, MTDC said, “This is a beautiful way to say farewell and pay a rich tribute to Manna Dey. We feel this creativity is a fitting tribute to the creative genius who has entertained India for so many years; it will be a loss that can never be truly realised. Only Sudarshan Pattnaik can create such a memorable tribute using something simple and yet also make it so profound”.
