Makers of GOD

Rithu Dravid | NT

Bengaluru: From clay to masterpieces, the idol makers bring festive spirit to Ganesh Chaturthi each year. As Bengaluru is gearing up for the ten-day festival, the idol making business is also sprucing up.

With numerous makeshift stalls on footpaths that come up during the seasons, the craftsmen receive multiple orders from customers. The idols aptly draw visitors’ attention to them.

The festival holds great cultural and religious importance as devotees across India and beyond come together to worship Lord Ganesha, seek his blessings for success and removal of obstacles.

During the beginning of the celebrations, the Ganesha statues are placed on raised platforms in homes or in elaborately decorated outdoor tents.

It is the busiest time of the year for the idol makers travelling all the way from Bengal, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and other states to make a fortune for themselves.

A group of artisans from West Bengal have been following a traditional practice of making idols for Ganesh Chaturthi and Dussehra in the city for decades.

These idols are crafted by a group of 15 artisans who outshine their skills by making a vast variety of figurines of lord Ganesha, Shiva, Hanuman, Durgadevi, Ravana etc. for the festivals. Chandrasekhar Pal, a well-known artisan with his team is among the best craftsmen in the city who has been following the ageold practice of making and selling idols to the buyers.

“It has been more than 25 years of Ganapathi and Dussehra idol making in this city that has provided me a livelihood”, says Pal.

The master craftsman Chandrasekhar also says, “The art of creating the idols has been a traditional practice learnt from my forefathers. We work tirelessly for weeks to create idols out of clay under difficult circumstances yet deliver the idols in time for the festivities.”

He however regrets that his children will not continue this skill as it fetches very little money despite the hard work.

He says, “Such traditional Indian art traditions will live on. Many others with a passion towards idol making will certainly carry it forward.”

Eco-friendly God

Idol makers, however, in recent years have been making Ganesha idols using eco-friendly materials such as clay or natural biodegradable materials.

There has been a growing concern of the environmental impact of using toxic materials in the production of Ganesha idols, particularly those made from Plaster of Paris (PoP).

“The Ganesha Idols are eco-friendly and are made of natural clay which dissolves in soil and water. The natural colors when dissolved don’t act as toxins and pollute the environment. Eco-friendly Ganesha is an environment- friendly alternative to synthetic idols with nonbiodegradable components that pollute aquatic life. The clay is sourced after carefully sifting through the best quality of clay available in the Gangetic region that has spiritual worth”, adds Pal.

Meanwhile the clay from the idols can be recycled and reused for other purposes. This helps reduce waste and promotes sustainable practices with a sense of social responsibility during the celebrations.

The idol makers often adorn the idols with vibrant colors. However, many commercial paints contain toxic substances that can pollute water bodies when the idols are immersed.

However, Pal says he uses water-soluble and natural colors for all his idols that are safe for the environment. He roughly sells 100 idols as special orders to his customers.

Usually, the orders are placed three months in advance and are delivered on time. The idols are largely of manageable sizes with extravagant decorations, yet some are as large as 10-feet high. The entire process of making an idol is a ten-day procedure.

The six-step process involves the laying of bamboo as a skeletal structure that is covered with dry hay, followed by coating of red clay, fine finish with Ganga clay, polishing, painting and finally sun drying.

According to Environmental Scientists, festivals should be organised, keeping sustainable development in mind.

“During the 10-day grand celebrations, using eco-friendly Ganesh idols is encouraged. The idea of the Eco Ganesha made by local artisans has been mooted from time to time. Buying plantable green Ganesha idols can be encouraged that will help Mother Earth sustain herself. This brings not only blessings from the divine but also helps think beyond environment”, says Senior Environment officer, Syed Khaja Mohiddin.