Fibre Gauri idol a hit

MUMBAI: Gauri idols in the ten-day Ganpati festival are usually less talked about. But this year, an unbreakable fibre Gauri idol in the traditional Maharashtrian nine-yards complete with necklace, nath and waistbelt has caught the imagination of her worshippers. Days before Ganesh Chathurthi, fibre idols at Lalbaug market are attracting both passers by and genuine buyers in greater numbers.
"Fibre-made Gauri idols are a one-time investment as they are unbreakable and water resistant,'' said Pritam Khaladkar, whose Lalbaug store offers three types of Gauri idols.Gauri puja is from August 26-29 and is celebrated by a large number of families in Mumbai and across the state.
Compared to the plaster of Paris idols that cost between Rs 300 and Rs 500, the full body fibre Gauri idol costs anywhere between Rs 12,000-18,000. Demand has shot up, said Khaladkar who has sold over 30 such fibre Gauri idols-three times more than last year.
Traditionally, many homes have a brass mukhavta (head) which is symbolically immersed. The mukhavtas too have more avatars this year. While the ones made of plaster of Paris cost Rs 100, demand is more for the ones made of fibre priced at Rs 1000. "People usually buy only the mukhavta as they have the rest of the parts. Every year I sell close to 1200 mukhavtas. This year I have already sold over 800 mukhavtas till now and more business is expected once Ganesh Chaturthi starts,'' said Dinesh Chaudhari, another seller, even as Gauri devotees crowded his shop at Lalbaug.