Odisha’s ‘Navagunjara’ Art Piece Will Be At Burning Man

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India-West News Desk

BLACK ROCK CITY, NV — A massive art installation, “Navagunjara Reborn: The Phoenix of Odisha,” will be featured at the annual Burning Man gathering, set to take place from August 24 to September 1 in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. The project, conceived by engineer Richa Maheshwari and academic Jnaneshwar “JD” Das, is one of 12 international projects to receive the prestigious Burning Man Honoraria Grant.

The sculpture is a fusion of two mythical creatures: the Navagunjara, a hybrid beast from Odia mythology and an avatar of Vishnu, and the Phoenix, a symbol of rebirth found in many cultures. This installation, a beacon of unity and resilience, is being created in collaboration with numerous indigenous craft communities from Odisha, India, and a coalition of engineers, designers, and artists from both India and the U.S.

Artisans have contributed their specialized skills, including Dhokra (lost-wax metal casting), Sabai grass weaving, Pattachitra painting, and Kotpad handloom textiles. Each component was crafted in its respective village in Odisha before being shipped for assembly in the U.S.