Bhubaneswar, Aug 31:

Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has won the people's choice prize for his sand sculpture titled "Mahatma Gandhi - World Peace" at the ninth Moscow Sand Sculpture Championship 2016.

Sudarsan has already won a gold medal for the 15-foot-high sculpture which he created at the championship held in April 2016. The sand art depicted the message of non-violence and peace.

In the People's Choice category, the sand sculpture got 60,000 votes of a total of 80,000 votes. At least 20 sand artists from countries around the world participated in the championship.

Organiser Pavel Minilkov sent the official mail to Sudarsan and congratulated him for winning the people's choice prize.

"I feel honoured that I have won People's choice prize at Moscow Sand Art. I thank visitors for giving me 60,000 votes," said Sudarsan.

"In April I have won Gold Medal for this sculpture & now won the People's choice prize. Thanks viewers again," tweeted the sand artist.

Pattnaik has also been honoured with a Padmashri -- India's fourth highest civilian award. He runs a sand art school at Puri beach in Odisha. (IANS)