Arizona, USA :

The Mayor of the City of Tempe, Arizona, USA, Mark W. Mitchell, has honoured the well-known Mysuru artist Ganjifa Raghupathi Bhat, a visiting artist at the local temple, by declaring September 16, 2016 as Sri Ganjifa Raghupathi Bhat Day in Tempe, Arizona.

This honour is for his two painting masterpieces of Hanumantha and Garuda, two Hindu mythological characters, for the temple in Sri Venkatakrishna Kshetra, Tempe, established by Sri Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji, the 30th pontiff in the lineage of Puthige Matha, Udupi, India.

The proclamation of the Mayor says that his paintings are exhibited in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. He is also the first artist to revive the dying ancient Indian art of Ganjifa miniature painting and has done much acclaimed work in the field.

He is also known as a restorer of ancient, heritage paintings and buildings like temples and Palaces. His restoration work of walls and ornate pillars at the Mysore Palace was much appreciated by the connoisseurs and qualified experts.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / September 19th, 2016