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Orissa based sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik on Monday was declared the winner of the people's choice award at the world championship held in Berlin last month for his 15-feet-high image of Lord Buddha.
Pattnaik, who hails from Orissa's beach city of Puri, 56 km from Bhubaneswar is the first Indian to win this contest.
Last year he had won the jury prize in the Berlin contest for his sculpture of the famous polar bear Knut, which lives in the Berlin Zoo.
"The people's choice award that I have won this time is the most prestigious award which is decided on the basis of votes given by the audience," Pattnaik told .
"The award was announced on Monday and the producer of the festival Anja Smolle had formally informed me by email," he said.
"At least 12 artists from 12 countries participated in this competition," he said.
While his sculpture got 1,383 votes, the second prize went to Gianni Schiumarini of Italy with 439 votes, he said.
Pattnaik created the image of a sitting Buddha for the 2nd United Sand Festival (USF) World Solo Sand Sculpture Championship 2009 that was held from June 4-11 in the German capital. The sculpture was on display from June 11-12.
Pattnaik has participated in more than 39 international sand sculpture festivals and competitions and won several prizes.
Pattnaik, who has figured in the Limca Book of Records in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 editions for his work, will also find place in the 2009 edition for winning the United Sand Festivals (USF) World Double Championship held on June 5.
