Ganesh Chaturthi is around the corner, and before the festivities begin in NCR, people are participating in the Make Your Own Ganpati workshops, where clay and creativity come together in a shared space. “People cherish the meditative power of moulding clay while experiencing spiritual synergy and joy,” say studio potters.
‘Creating an eco-friendly Ganpati is creatively and spiritually enriching’Sustainability is a key factor in festivities today. Studio potter Pooja Verma, who started conducting her annual Ganpati-making workshops in the first week of August, says, “These workshops are interactive sessions where participants create their own eco-friendly Ganesha idols at the studio. While the studio workshops have around 10-15 participants, corporate workshops have 50-100 participants.” “It is best to use natural materials like terracotta clay to make the idol,” says pottery artist Manisha Sah, “In a guided session, one also gets to learn.
Craft your own Bappa for a sustainable celebration
‘There’s joy in seeing clay take the form of Ganpati’For participants, the session is meditative. “There was a shared joy in seeing balls of clay taking the shape of Ganesha’s trunk, ears, and finally having the idol take form. It was satisfying that I made it myself,” says Nandini Mishra, a homemaker, who attended a Ganpati making workshop. Another participant, Sneha Sahukar, a psychologist who attended a workshop recently, says, “The process of making the idol deepens our connection with Bappa. Those three hours felt meditative.” sculpting techniques like pinching and coiling. I suggest participants add tomato, marigold, or tulsi seeds to the clay so that a plant can grow after the idol’s visarjan .”
NCR residents make eco-friendly ganpatis
Sona Srivastava, a ceramic artist, says making an eco-friendly Ganesha is rewarding. “It is an enriching process, both creatively and spiritually. These workshops are popular across age groups, as working with clay is calming, and the festive connection makes it more interesting. Many make it a family activity, which is rooted in tradition and sustainability,” she says.
The experience of making a Ganpati idol is both mindful and fulfilling, as participants connect with their creation
Pooja Verma, a pottery artist
Some participants craft mooshak for their Ganesha idols
We have been bringing Bappa home for the last 10 years. This is the first time I’ve made the idol myself. I feel, iss baar visarjan mein zyaada dukh hoga
Divya Burman, a Noida-based fitness trainer
• The idols are made with natural, eco-friendly terracotta clay, so bring a measured amount of workable clay home
• Knead and even out the clay, keep it moist by wrapping it in a damp cloth
• Keep the design simple. Make the base, the head, and the trunk first. Roll in coils to make arms and legs
• Add details like ears, eyes, crown, modak , and the mouse (mooshak)
• Focus on the joy of making rather than perfection
• Use rice paste, turmeric, chandan , or roli to adorn the idol, rather than using chemical-laced paints
– Inputs from studio potters Pooja Verma from Claying Thoughts Pottery Studio, Manisha Sah of Wildfern Pottery, and Sona of Sona Pottery
<p><br>Over the years, potters have observed that some participants fire their idol in the kiln and keep it in their temple, instead of immersing it</p>
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