Sand Art Tributes for Indian Army Events
Telling stories of bravery and pride through sand art. It is a profound privilege to illustrate the dedication of our jawans for special occasions and commemorative events.
Sarvada Shaktishali. A powerful frame from a sand art film created for the Indian Army, showing our brave soldiers with the tricolour held high. A tribute to our real heroes.
A glimpse from an ongoing project, a short film on the Kargil War. I use coloured sand to bring details like the soldiers' uniforms to life, adding a layer of realism to these important stories.
Work in progress on a short film about our Kargil heroes. This clip shows the intricate process of drawing soldiers in motion, capturing their courage in the face of adversity.
These are frames from "Battle of Jarpal," the first short film I created for the Indian Army in 2021. It is a privilege to narrate these stories of incredible bravery.
A glimpse of my live sand art performance in Ambala for the Indian Army's "Sure Shooters" regiment. It is always a powerful experience to tell their story to them directly.
Performing in a saree for the first time at the 40th Raising Day celebration of the "Sure Shooters" regiment. It was a joy to depict their journey for the dignitaries present.
The view from my station at the "Sure Shooters" event. Performing outdoors under the stars for our soldiers was a truly memorable experience.
Another shot of the setup for the Indian Army event. You can see my storyboard on the tablet, ready for the live performance.
A frame from our recent short film on the Battle of Asal Uttar, featuring a sand portrait of the brave CQMH Abdul Hamid, PVC. It is an honour to immortalize our heroes in sand.
About Tributes to Our Jawans
When we craft these tributes, we don't just use light and sand. I work closely with your team to script the specific narrative, whether it is the history of a regiment, a specific battle like Asal Uttar, or a tribute to a martyr, ensuring every grain of sand honours the occasion with precision.
Every tribute I create for our jawans carries a deep sense of responsibility. Unlike general performances, these pieces require historical accuracy and a respectful tone. Whether I am depicting the bravery of CQMH Abdul Hamid during the Battle of Asal Uttar or illustrating the regiment's history for a Raising Day celebration, the process remains meticulous. I start by storyboarding the sequence to ensure the visual flow aligns with the timeline of events or the narrative you want to convey.
The visual aspect is paired with the right atmosphere. My husband Saurabh often composes the backing tracks or coordinates live musical accompaniment, blending flute or patriotic vocals with the sand performance to heighten the emotional impact.
If you are planning an event for a regiment, a commemorative function, or an official celebration, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Visual Setup: Since the art is live, I require a clear projection setup (LED wall or high-lumen projector) so the audience can see the intricate movements of my hands.
- Personalization: I can incorporate specific elements like regiment insignias, unit mottos, or portraits of heroes to make the tribute distinct to your team.
- Collaboration: Let us know the theme in advance so we can prepare the storyboard and match the music perfectly to the sand strokes.
It is always a pleasure to perform in uniforms or traditional attire depending on the event's formality. If you have a specific story from your unit's history, let me know, and we can find a way to bring it to life on the lightbox.
Manisha Swarnkar
I am Manisha, a sand artist based in Delhi. I blend my hands and specialized lightboxes to narrate stories that matter, particularly for our Indian Army events. My husband Saurabh usually joins me with live music, ensuring our tributes to our heroes are as moving as they are visual.
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