Goa: Young Quepem duo battles odds to keep Ganesh idol art alive

QUEPEM: For the young Shetkar duo, taking up their family occupation of making Ganesh idols trumps the pursuit of any other profession.
Committed to keeping the dying occupation alive and their hearths burning, cousins Sushant, 34, and Sanish, 20, realise there is a lot at stake if they discontinue this traditional activity. These youth from Sonarbhatt are, in fact, the largest suppliers of Ganesh idols in Quepem town and have chosen to take over the family occupation from their fathers despite the many odds stacked against them.
“Several artisans make Ganesh idols out of plaster of Paris (PoP), which do not easily dissolve in water and pollute our seas and rivers.We use a special mud from the Bicholim taluka in North Goa and even from Karwar in Karnataka, as it makes it easier to add intricate features to each idol of the elephant-headed god,” Sushant says.
Sourcing skilled labour, however, poses a challenge. “For the past several years, we have been hiring workers from Maharashtra as it is difficult to find workers in Goa. The pandemic only added to our woes last year. We were unable to hire workers from the neighbouring state due to travel restrictions,” Sanish said.
The cousins finally decided to look for a clay moulding machine, which they got with financial support from a well-wisher in the town.
Apart from creating Ganesh idols Sushant and Sanish also make idols of goddess Saraswati, effigies of the demon Narkasur and decor for Carnival floats.