Narendra Modi tattoos a hit among Gujarat's youngsters

"Since his name was announced as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, youngsters have been getting his photo, symbol and lotus tattooed on their neck and back. This trend gathered further momentum during the nine-night garba dance festival," Jagruti Parmar, a tattoo artiste told PTI.

She said that initially it was only BJP youth workers who did it, but the trend seems to be spreading to Mumbai.

Narendra Modi. File Pic

"A lot of inquiries were received this year during the nine-night dance festival," Nikhil Bhanushali, a Ghatkopar-based tattoo artiste told PTI.

"Inquiries for temporary and permanent Modi tattoos rose during this year's garba festival," he said, attributing it to Modi's oratorial skills.

The Gujarat government's aggressive marketing drive of Narendra Modi kurtas to promote khadi on Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary seems to have sparked off the trend.

"The main khadi attraction this year is a wide range of apparel, both for men and women, in new styles that include Narendra Modi kurtas and a special set for the Navratri festival," Chairman of Gujarat State Khadi Gramodyog Board, Vadibhai Patel, told PTI.