Rama Shah to make 500 Lord Ganesha idols non-stop in 25 hours

Mumbai, Aug 28 (UNI) As the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is nearing, Rama Shah, a devotee of Lord Ganesha, who has been making idols of the elephant-headed God for the past 7 years will make 500 Ganesha idols non-stop in 25 hours this year.

Speaking to reporters here today, Ms Shah said ''I will make different Ganesh idols in 25 hours non-stop from 0700 hours from August 30 to 0800 hours of August 31 without using a block or mould.

Swami Chaitanya Swarupdasji will bless me when I commence making the idols.'' Ramaben who has been making Lord Ganesha idols in different sizes, by August end, will complete making 65,000 beautiful Ganesha idols which are washable and unbreakable.

She claimed she can make Ganesha idols with her eyes closed, being blind-folded.

World famous TV show 'Ripley's Believe It or Not' has contacted Ms Shah to display the 500 idols at Ripley's Believe It or Not new museum at Bangalore.

The idols will also be displayed for 'darshan' for people between August 31 and September 1 from 0930 hours to 2130 hours at Shri Vallabh Shikshan Sangeet Ashram at Sion.

A felicitation ceremony has been arranged by Shreevallabh Shikshan Sangeet Ashram on September 1 at 1800 hours, where Maharashtra NCP unit President Arun Gujarathi, Janmabhoomi Chief Editor Kundan Vyas and Bruhad Mumbai Gujarathi Samaj President Hemrajbhai Shah will be the chief guests.

Ms Shah has received several awards including the Limca Book of Records and Ripley's Believe It or Not. She is also the recipient of the Girnar award by Bruhad Mumbai Gujarathi Samaj given by Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, the Star Talent award by Star Plus Channel, Woman of the Year award in 2004 and the vocational excellence award by Rotary Club.

Some of her other achievements include in 2000, she had made 9,999 Ganesha idols in 99 days, in 2001 she completed 12,140 Ganesha idols and in 2002 she completed 13,617 Ganesha idols. In 2003 she made a unique tree 'Ganesha Vruksha' having 999 all different Ganesha idols on each leaf among others.

UNI