UP: Artiste's 51hr strive for Lord Ganesha

Varanasi, Sep 1: A young artiste who has fashioned 75,000 forms of Lord Ganesha over the last two decades has embarked on a 51-hour special endeavour to present over 5,000 memorable birthday gifts to his revered deity.

Vijay Murtikar (32), a fine arts graduate from the family of idol-makers of Assi locality here yesterday marked the 'Ganesh Janma Utsav' by embarking on a special creative venture to fashion 5,000 birthday gifts for Lord Ganesha in a time of 51-hours.

Spanning paintings, sketches, clay models, collages to sculptures all depicting Ganesha in various forms and postures the ardent devotee has used water and clay from Gangotri to mix colours and his imagination.

''I intend to fashion at least 5,000 creations as birthday gifts to Lord Ganesha by 1200 hrs on September 2,'' said Vijay who began his special artistic tribute to the deity at 0900 hrs yesterday.

The artiste who fashioned many innovating forms of Ganesha spanning from special Ganesha tatoos, 'tilak's and bindis' to Ganesha on 51 fruits and cereals will today paint the revered deity on the head of 11 tonsured volunteers.

In the past also this he had painted galaxy of innovative forms of Ganeshas, including the deity in various 'Yoga' postures, playing different musical instruments and trying his hand at a cricket bat and tennis racket.

Showcasing his unstinting 'bhakti' to the god Vijay also fashioned breathtaking sketches of the deity even after blindfolding self.

During the entire 51-hour exercise, Vijay will only consume 'phalhar' (fruits and milk) and will showcase his 5,000 b'day gifts at exhibitions across the country in future.

UNI