Sand artist welcomes BRICS leaders to India with artwork

Sand artist Manas Kumar Sahoo has created a colorful sand animation in Puri, Odisha, to welcome leaders attending the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The artwork, which took eight hours to complete, features portraits of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The animation also depicts Bharat Mandapam, the venue in Delhi associated with the summit. This artistic gesture coincides with the ongoing BRICS Business Forum, which brings together government and business leaders from member nations. The summit is being held under India’s 2026 chairship.