?February 19, Shivaji Jayanti is a public holiday in Maharashtra. People celebrate the birth anniversary of the great Maratha warrior Shivaji Bhonsle on the day. Last year a crop artist Mangesh Nipankar created an artwork of Shivaji using crops and it could be seen on Google Maps.?
Google Earth is a boon for people who have a lousy sense of direction. Back when Google introduced this and Google Maps in the early 2000s, I remember, for years afterwards, people tried to locate their homes or places known to them on it and felt a sense of pride and relief that they could find themselves.
It felt like a stamp, like, ¡®phew, we exist.¡¯
Advanced satellites improved the Google Earth experience over the years and today the virtual experience of exploring places on Google Earth and Google Maps is quite satisfying. This is how Humayun's tomb appears on Google?Maps when you search it.
Google Maps
In February, on the occasion of Shivaji Jayanti last year, an artwork was created on the fields of Maharashtra, which can be seen on the Google maps and it is breathtaking. Even though the artwork has been on the map since February 2019, but it went viral in the middle of last year.
Spellbinding, is it not? The man behind this artwork is Mangesh Nipankar, a popular rangoli artist. He has done similar work in the past. So how and where was this rangoli created? The awe-inspiring artwork was created over 2.4 lakh sq feet of land, spread across 6 acres at a farm in Nilanga village in Latur district, Maharashtra.
Over 2,500kg of seeds were planted by Nipankar a week before Shivaji Jayanti this year, which is on 19th February. The idea was to let the seeds grow green to distinctly create the face of the brave warrior. Nipankar did not leave out any details, he even formed a frame around the face, making it look like a painting.
The video recently resurfaced and people just cannot stop praising the artwork. It is being virally shared on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and WhatsAap.
In case you are a sceptic and believe this is too good to be true, you can check this magnificent piece of artwork yourself! Just go on Google map, turn on satellite mode and search, ¡®Chhatrapati Shree Shivaji Maharaj Farm Painting Art¡¯ / ¡®Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj grass photo farm¡¯. And this is what you will find.?
As quoted by The Indian Express, Nipankar said, ¡°Last year we made a world record-breaking rangoli of Shivaji. This year we had a different concept. Marathwada is drought-hit region so it was decided to make a green image of Chhatrapati Shivaji. The objective was to celebrate a green Shivaji Jayanti.¡±
The idea is genius. Not only does it pay tribute to Shivaji but makes the environment greener. Nirankar reportedly also had some help from the local farmers who helped him bring his idea to fruition.?
In case you want to visit the place, it was opened to public in February itself.?