Gandhi among South Asian landmarks and icons recreated in sand at Tottori museum

TOTTORI -- The "Travel around the world in sand -- South Asia" exhibition kicked off on April 13 at the Sand Museum here, capturing visitors with remarkable silicon reproductions of some of South Asia's most iconic sights and people.

The show, the museum's 12th, is scheduled to run until Jan. 5, 2020. The museum is situated next to the Tottori Sand Dunes, the largest of their kind in Japan. Every year it holds a new exhibition showcasing a different locale from around the world for its sand sculptures. The museum has chosen India and South Asia as this year's theme to mark Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birthday.

Twenty-one sand sculptors from 10 countries were assembled to create the South-Asian landmarks and images from approximately 2,800 metric tons of sand. Visitors can see recreations of Gandhi, India's Taj Mahal, and Pakistan's Mohenjo-Daro, the ruins of one of the largest settlements of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, among others. Sculptures featuring deities from South Asian myths, as well as people cleansing themselves through prayer, are also on display.

The exhibition's opening ceremony was attended by around 70 officials, including Tottori Gov. Shinji Hirai and city of Tottori Mayor Yoshihiko Fukazawa. In an address at the ceremony, the Consul General of India, Osaka-Kobe Shyam Balasubramanian told attendees, "I am very happy that South Asia was chosen for this year's theme. I hope that many people will come and see it."

From the morning of opening day, a huge line of visitors had formed at the museum. Many were taken aback by the stunningly intricate Gandhi sculpture visible just inside the entrance. Other attendees could be seen taking photographs of sculptures of religious structures unlike those found in Japan. Ruri Suzaki, 10, a 5th grade student at Hamasaka Elementary School, told the Mainichi Shimbun, "It's fun to see temples and ruins up close that you normally can't see unless you go to South Asia."

Source: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190415/p2a/00m/0na/012000c