No idle days for Ganesh idolmakers

Bhopal: Incessant rains might have played a spoilsport for many, but it failed to dampen the spirits of idol makers, who are busy casting idols of the Lord for the 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival beginning August 31. After two years of celebrating the festival under Covid curbs, elated idol makers are happy to be back in business lending final touches to their creations.
Veeram Bhati, an idol maker from Roop Nagar area in Govindpura, said that he did not make Ganesh idols last year due to Covid and the restrictions that he had to follow. “I usually make small Ganesh idols by mixing Plater of Paris (POP) and clay to make it eco-friendly,” said Bhati. However, he hoped that the rains subsides and sun shines to help dry the idols fast before the festival arrives.
Bhati said an idol as tiny as 35 cms takes two to three days to complete. “We have different types of frames to cast idols, but painting and final touches take a bit longer.” He added the moisture and rains have impacted the pace of work. Last year in Covid, Bhati and his neighbours— also in the business of making Ganesh idols did not make a single idol due to restrictions. And this year, Bhati is hopeful that he would at least get back to the days of glory as they were pre-Covid. In compliance with Bhopal Municipal Corporation’s ban on plastic paint, artisans are colouring the idols with natural colour by mixing kerosene and water.
Suresh Yadav, an idol maker at Kali Badi, said that he has a workforce of around 15 artists. “A 12-feet tall Ganesha idol completes in two weeks.” He has got a waterproof tent to keep finished idols for drying. Suresh and his team received 12 orders of idols as tall as 10 to 12 feet. “The price of idols depend on the size and goes up to Rs 35,000,” he said, adding, demand for big idols has gone down after the pandemic.
ADM Dilip Yadav said that NGT guidelines mandate idol makers to use eco-friendly material without any toxic. Use of single-use plastic and thermocol is strictly banned, he added.