At age 12, Vairavan Achari became a creator of Hindu art, inheriting the profession from his father. Now 52, the artist and sculptor has spent the past two years at the Hindu Temple of Minnesota in Maple Grove. Here, he worked on the deity Lord Ganapathi, also known as Ganesha, the dancing elephant to which Hindus pray for success before taking up special projects. He used no visual aid, but worked from memory to fashion the piece from brick pieces and cement. Achari is proud to be a temple artist. "There are not many people in this modern world who would like to take up this job," he said.
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An artist and sculptor has spent the past two years at the Hindu Temple of Minnesota in Maple Grove
March 20, 2011 at 4:57PM
Vairavan C. Achari is a artist/sculptor of Hindu art and has been working the past two years creating art at the Hindu Temple of Minnesota in Maple Grove. Achari, 52, inherited his profession from his father when he was 12 years old. Here, he worked on the deity Lord Ganapathi - the dancing elephant in which Hindus pray to for success before taking up special projects - making the piece from brick pieces and cement from memory, with no visual aid. Achari said "he is proud to be a temple artist. There are not many people in this modern world who would like to take up this job." (Chandra Akkari — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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David Joles
PhotographerDavid Joles is a photojournalist covering general assignments for the Star Tribune, with an interest in social documentary stories.
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