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Ganesh idol makers not dampened

Arunkumar Bhatt

"The idols which were lost were still raw and hence only soil was lost"

PEN: In this flood-ravaged town in the Konkan, famous for its cottage industry, about 20 per cent of Ganesh idols were washed away. It supplies idols to Gujarat and Tamil Nadu for the annual Ganesh festival, over a month away. There are about 350 idol-makers who work round the year.

Among the idols damaged in the downpour and deluge are those made by artists living in nearby villages on the banks of the Bhogavati. These had just been cast with `shadu,' special soil from Bhavnagar in Gujarat.

"But the damage will not cause any shortage for the festival for, the loss is small and we have enough carryover stocks from last year," says Narendra Vedpathak, a bank employee who casts idols round the year. "Hence, there would be no price rise."

While they make the casts in all seasons, the artists do not finish the work. Painting the idols in bright colours is done only a month before the festival to keep the initial investment low and give the finished image the look preferred by customers.

Mr. Vedpathak said the idols, which were lost, were still raw and hence the makers lost only soil and labour.

Painting expensive

Colours and labour for painting account for the bigger cost component. After giving a coat of paint, the artists beautify the idols with various shades of colours.They make small idols for pooja at home. The bigger ones seen at roadside poojas are cast on the spot to avoid transportation hassles and cost and possible damage.

It is not a good omen if an idol gets damaged before immersion.

Mr. Vedpathak said Gujarat, particularly Surat, emerged as a good market for the idols. A number of artists migrated to Mumbai, carrying with them `shadu' and colours for two or three months, to meet the festival demand and saved the transport cost.

They turned full-time idol makers during this period. Others are part-timers such as Mr. Vedpathak.

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