Noted sand artist Sudarsan creates giant Santa Claus sculpture with 1500 kg tomatoes
Gopalpur (Odisha) (PTI): A giant 27-foot sand and tomato Santa Claus installation crafted by well-known sculptor Sudarsan Pattnaik rang in the Christmas cheer in Odisha on Sunday, as revellers flocked to the Gopalpur beach to get a glimpse of the artwork.
Pattnaik claimed his creation is the world's biggest tomato and sand installation of Santa Claus, which weighs 1.5 tonnes and is 60-feet wide.
The Padma Shri awardee said he completed the sculpture at the Gopalpur beach in Ganjam district with the help of 15 of his students.
"#TomatoSanta world's biggest Tomato with Sand #SantaClause installation," he said in a tweet.
"We have set records earlier, too, during Christmas by creating the biggest Santa Claus using different mediums. This time, we have used sand and tomato," Pattnaik, 45, later told reporters.
The internationally acclaimed artist has been making sand sculptures based on a variety of themes over the years.
Earlier this month, Pattnaik had created the logo of India's G20 presidency on sand, after India officially took over the chair of the grouping in November.
He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2014 for his immense contribution to art.
क्रिसमस के अवसर पर सैंड आर्टिस्ट सुदर्शन पटनायक ने ओडिशा के गोपालपुर बीच पर 1500 किलो टमाटर से 27 फीट ऊंचा सैंड सांता क्लॉज बनाया #Trending #Odisha #Christmas #SantaClaus #merrychristmas🎄 @sudarsansand pic.twitter.com/nJllpPgPnf
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Chinese man rejects rs 2 crore offer, lives in house surrounded by highway
Jinxi, China: A homeowner in Jinxi, a town southwest of Shanghai, has become the centre of attention after refusing to vacate his house for a motorway project. Workers built the highway around the property after he declined the government's compensation offer, transforming the house into a peculiar landmark.
Huang Ping, the owner of the two-storey house, was offered 1.6 million yuan (approximately Rs 1.9 crore) along with two properties, later increased to three. However, dissatisfied with the deal, he chose to stay. With the highway set to open in spring, Huang now lives at its centre, requiring passage through a large pipe to access the home.
Although Huang regrets the decision, calling it "a big bet" he lost, the house has become a local attraction. Residents and visitors frequently stop by to take pictures of the unusual setup.
To escape the noise and dust from construction, Huang and his grandson spend their days in the town centre, returning home only after work hours. There are concerns that the constant noise from the operational motorway will make peaceful living impossible.
The stubborn old Chinese man who refused to sell his house for a government project now regrets his decision.
— Ibra ❄️ (@IbraHasan_) January 25, 2025
Huang Ping, from Hunan province, hoped for more money but lost everything. The government built a road around his house, leaving it in the middle of a busy street. Now,… pic.twitter.com/it0rYe2fhd
