On Christmas Eve, noted sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has created a 45-feet-high sand Santa Claus with a "World Peace" message at Puri beach on Thursday.

Patnaik's sand statue has staked claim to be recognised as the world's tallest Santa made of sand. Sudarsan used more than 1,000 tonnes of sand with some coloured sand in creating Santa. 

He was assisted by 20 of his students at the Sudarsan Sand Art Institute of Puri.The team took 22 hours in two days to build up the mammoth structure, which is on display from Thursday evening until January 1.

Sudarsan has also created Lord Jesus and Mother Mary. "I have appealed to Limca Book of Records to place this record in their book. We broke our own previous record," Patnaik said.

Photograph: Prasar Bharati/Twitter