There's a castle at Calangute

Your Palace or Mine? Is a slightly risque tagline on a youth-centric T-shirt brand but when it is about this castle, it is more risk than risque. A 20-foot high sand castle is being guarded 24/7 by a security guard on Goa's Calangute Beach and is open to public viewing till May 2014.

The organisation Sand Cult has tied up with Goa Tourism and internationally known sand sculptor Simon Smith, to create this 20-foot-tall sand castle on Calangute beach in Goa

This castle which was complete after three weeks of work is made by master sand sculptor Simon Smith, who is from the United Kingdom. The castle project has been made under the patronage of Sand Cult, entrepreneur Jerry Jose's sand sculpting company.

Simon Smith attends to details on every side of the castle

Jose, who is originally a Mulund boy has relocated to Goa for six months, for various sand sculpting projects. He says, "I met Simon in 2010 at a sand sculpting festival in Goa. I learnt he comes to Goa every year and we decided on this sculpture, that is how the huge castle came about.

Compacting the sand and forming the base

In fact, currently, Simon is in Mumbai as he is creating a small castle at the High Street Phoenix in Lower Parel. He is working on the sculpture now, which will be ready by February 10-11 and on display till February 28. We do this to collect funds for cancer patients as World Cancer Day falls in February (Feb 4, to be exact).

The forms were carefully put in place

The Calangute sculpture too, is free for visitors but says Jerry, "We have a donation box, where we encourage visitors to contribute generously for future projects so that we can keep the art of sand sculpturing going on.

Form work and compacting itself took about four days

This sculpture is at one of the most crowded beaches in Goa, so we get a lot of visitors. Yet, there is a huge risk of vandalism, people may throw stones or spoil it in some way, so we have a guard there through the day and night."

Simon Smith begins working on the spire of the castle

Jerry says that photographs do not do justice to the intricate work this 20-foot high sculpture made of 70 tonnes of sand and water, has. "As the sun sets, the castle looks even more beautiful, as there are lights in the numerous windows of the castle."

Sand Cult aims to promote the art of sand sculpting, as well as social issues

The castle also has a character, Shrek, which Jerry says, "is made simply because we wanted a children's character to the work. Shrek has a castle too in the movie. In this sand art sculpture, there is a chain going from the castle and tied to Shrek's wrist."

Or rather, on his vest, as Shrek proclaims his love for Goa

Jerry is now working on getting Indian sand sculptors for a sand sculpting festival to be held along with Goa's well-known carnival set to run from March 1 to 4. Says Jerry, "The sculptures will be done at the Miramar Beach in Panaji, and will be an aesthetic addition to all the colour and fervour of the carnival. In fact, I see them getting ready in about a fortnight from now.

Even Shrek's donkey got all his details etched perfectly

We are working on an Alice in Wonderland theme for the Panjim sculptures," he ends. There is yet another 'S' to Goa's signature four ‘S' tune of Sun, Sea, Sorpotel and Susegade - make that Sun, Sea, Sand Sculpting, Sorpotel and Susegade. We'll drink to that - with feni of course.