Love at the time of Asian Games

Doha: Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has created a replica of internationally-famous Taj Mahal at the main venue of the 15th Asian Games. Pattnaik has also created a replica of the Games mascot, which attracted scores of visitors.

The Taj replica is the fourth in a series, after one at Houston in Texas last year and in black sand at Agra to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the 'monument of love' built by Moghul emperor Shahjahan in 17th century.

Pattnaik and his team of four students were invited by the organisers of the Asiad to create the sculptures in sand at sports city.

The team took three days and 100 tonnes of golden sand to create the 11-feet-high and 15-feet-long replica of Taj Mahal. Pattnaik's students Manas Kumar Sahoo, Sanjayshree Subhasis Samal, Jitendra Kishore Jagadev and Bulu Mohanty assisted him in creating the 'wonder of love'.