Sudarsan Pattnaik beats 'Mann Ki Baat' & Salman Khan to become the top trend on Facebook

BHUNBANESWAR: Globetrotting sand sculptor Sudarsan Pattnaik was the most sought-after topic on ‘ Facebook trending’, beating Prime Minister’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ and Samlan Khan’s 50th birthday for a major part of Sunday.

Sudarsan’s recent sand art on Santa Claus on Puri beach topped the Facebook trending, leaving behind nine other topics, including a pictorial post of footballer David Beckham’s son on his father sleeping with chocolate on his face.

The trending reads: “Odisha: Artist Sudarsan Pattnaik Creates What May Be World's Tallest Santa Claus Made of Sand.” On the eve of Christmas, Sudarsan created the 45-feet-high Santa carrying a message of ‘World Peace’ at Puri beach. He used more than 1,000 tons of sand, 20 students and 22 hours to complete the structure, which is still on display at the Puri beach. Everyday a number of tourists have been visiting the sand art.

45ft high,75ft width,22hrs took me to complete World's tallest SandSantaClaus @#puribeach India,hope for#worldrecord pic.twitter.com/OkqoKJfSp2

— sudarsan pattnaik (@sudarsansand) December 26,

2015

“I woke up to the pleasant surprise around 7 am. I found my Sand Santa on top of the Facebook trending. The trend remained unchanged for several hours. It was an honour for me as Facebook users worldwide appreciated my art amidst several other leading topics of the world like Prime Minister’s Mann Ki Baat, David Beckham, Salman Khan’s birthday and two arrested after falsely claiming refund from online retailer Flipkart,” Sudarsan told TOI.

The reason of Sudarsan’s art trending ahead is because of its popularity worldwide, the artist said. “The art was liked over 10 lakh people and shared by not less than 5 lakh people. Facebook users in different countries have given their comments and shared links of local, national and international media reports on the artwork,” Sudarsan said.

While for the first time Sudarsan’s art topped the Facebook trending, he had on several occasions made records by creating sand arts on Santa Claus theme. In 2008, he made 25-ft high Santa on the Puri beach, which stormed into Limca Book of Records. He also carved 100 and 500 miniature sand Santas on the beach in 2009 and 2010, respectively.