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A Rajasthani has 11 feet long moustache
by Jethmal Sharma

     Bikaner (Rajasthan): For Girdhar Vyas of Rajasthan sporting long moustaches is a matter of great pride. He is a regular feature at the Annual Camel festival of Bikaner as his trademark 11 feet long moustache has become a big tourist attraction. His long moustaches have not only fascinated foreign tourists but also inspired some of them to follow suite. "He has got the longest moustaches we have ever seen. We think it's looking quite handsome. I am thinking of growing just like this myself," said Ben Radcliff, a foreign tourist. Vyas is busy these days preparing his moustaches for the upcoming Camel Festival, a lively and colourful event, which will be held next week in Bikaner. Vyas will be performing unusual stunts with his moustaches in the festival. It took Vyas 25 years to grow these long moustaches nurturing them regularly with almonds, curd, ghee and lemon. Vyas claims to have lifted gas cylinders, buckets and weights with his moustache. But now he intends to test the real strength of his moustaches by pulling a Maruti Van. "I have been blessed with such extraordinary moustaches. I have got 11 feet long moustaches, measuring 5.5 feet on each side. I have been participating in camel festival for the last 10-12 years. I have lifted buckets, weights and gas cylinders with these moustaches and now with good wishes of loved ones I want to pull a Maruti Van," said Girdhar Vyas, moustache man. Moustaches certainly have been a thing of beauty and pride for the people of Rajasthan and growing them longer holds an eternal appeal. Depending on its style moustaches could even reveal a man's ethnicity. However, of late the trend of growing long moustache appears to be losing the traditional appeal with the younger generation especially in cities. Vyas is not the first Indian to perform a stunt with his moustache. A 52-year-old man has earlier lifted 10 bricks weighing 50 kilograms with his moustache. Another Indian lifted LPG cylinders weighing 35 kilograms with his moustaches.
-January 19,  2008