Report by Orissadiary correspondent; New Delhi: India’s internationally acclaimed sand artist from Orissa Sudarsan Pattnaik participated in the 2nd USF World Solo Sand Sculpture Championship 2009 held from  June 4-11, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. Pattnaik created a 15 feet high sitting Buddha (similar to one in Bodhgaya) spreading the message of peace in Berlin. The Berlin Tower in the background the imposing image of Buddha was a crowd puller. This festival will remain open to public till end of July for enabling the public to vote the winner of  Public Prize at the USF World Championship.  In this championship 12 International solo artists from 12 different countries from all over the world had participated and the top prize was won by the sculptor from Italy which was won by Pattnaik in last years championship. 
Pattnaik said that he is expecting that he will get the maximum votes for his sculpture to enable him to win the Public Prize.
Orissa based artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has already participated in 39 International Sand Sculpture Festival/Competition around the world and had won many prizes.  This year he was honoured as people of the year by Limca Book of Records. His sand sculpture on Black Taj Mahal earned him accolades all over the world. Through his art he helped the tsunami victims in India, save the endangered Olive Ridley Turtles and spread awareness of the dangers of HIV/AIDS and polio. He is running a sand art School named as Golden Sand art institute at Puri, Orissa.