Making Ganesha idols tradition for them

VADODARA: While the art and material for making Ganesha idols may have changed over the years - even raising concern about the environment - this family has stuck to tradition of over seven decades now. The family has stuck to the traditional way of making idols for the royal Gaekwad family and even for other Ganesha devotees.
The Chavan family based in Dandia Bazaar started making Ganesha idols for Gaekwads since 1940 when a Ganesha was installed at the palace for the first time by late Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad.An idol of the same size and weight has been installed at the palace ever since.
Mansinh Chavan (68), who makes the idols presently, learnt the craft from his father Krishnarao Chavan. "My father learnt painting on fabric from my grandfather Barikrao. Seeing the talent in my father, Maharaja Sayajirao III sent him to the J J School of Arts in Mumbai for formal studies in painting and sculpture. Sayajirao even felicitated him and honoured him with a place in his durbar," Mansinh said.
According to Mansinh, Maharaja Sayajirao wanted to install a Ganesha idol at the palace during festivities, but he passed away. "In 1940, Pratapsinhrao Maharaj decided to fulfill the wish of Sayajirao and asked good artists to make idols. He also called priests from Kashi and asked them to have a look at these idols and select the one that in their opinion was the best," Mansinh said.
Krishnarao's idol was selected by the priests as it was the best. The idol is three-feet-high and weighs 50kg. The artisans work on it only during auspicious time in the day.
Mansinh said despite requests, the family has stayed away from making plaster of Paris idols. "We stick to the tradition and make only clay idols," he said. His son Mangesh has also learnt the art and is continuing the tradition.