Chef Vikas Khanna brings Odisha to Times Square

India’s Independence Day celebrations at Times Square is definitely not a novel concept thanks to the large Indian diaspora present in the country. But celebrity chef Vikas Khanna believed that there was a need to elevate the experience from the usual festivities. 

As such, he unveiled Stone Art, a 1,750 kg sand stone inspired the 24 wheels of the iconic Sun Temple in Konark. The structure measures 8ft x 6ft x 1ft and was made in Odisha by artist Amaresh Chandra Bindhani and his team. 

The art installation sparked conversation on social media and saw a lot of praise including from Odisha’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The art piece has been installed at 44^th & Broadway in Time Square as part of India’s 77^th Independence Day celebrations and will be on display until 22^nd August, following which it will be installed in Khanna’s upcoming flagship restaurant in New York City in 2024.