Wider range of Ganesha idols; prices may up by 40%

Puneites will have a wider range of Ganesha idols to choose from during the forthcoming Ganeshotsav, as a delayed monsoon and the additional Hindu month of Adhik-Bhadrapad (which occurs once every four years) before the festival gave more time to idol-makers for manufacturing more idols.

However, increased transportation cost and inflation will make a hole in the pocket of Ganesha devotees by at least 40%.

The city needs over five lakh Ganesha idols every year, and the demand is increasing substantially. Idol-makers said that though the delayed Ganeshotsav gives them freedom to spend more time on making Ganesha idols and doing critical art work on them, they fear the rise in prices may affect their hard work.

Ganesh Khedkar, maker and wholesale trader of Ganesha idols in Kumbharwada said, “This time, we managed to make more idols. However, the skyrocketing prices of raw material will lead to a price rise of Ganesha idols, and this may make household Ganesha idol buyers to opt for smaller idols.”

Khedkar makes around 3,000 Ganesha idols, including small and big idols, for retailers and individual customers.

Usually, height for a Ganesha idol in Pune ranges from a height of nine inch to 10 feet, and devotees installing Ganesha idols for one-and-a-half days prefer the nine-inch idol.

Lala Deshmukh, one of the prominent Ganesha idol-makers in the city said, “Each Ganesha idol exchanges at least 40 hands right from making the idol from plaster of Paris to doing critical art and painting work.

“Last year, due to civic elections, many Ganesha mandals had hefty funds to celebrate the festival and the households were also happy due to sufficient rain. However, this year we fear less returns due to inflation,” he said.

Deshmukh makes around 5,000 Ganesha idols every year and starts his work on Vijaya Dashmi of the previous year. “I hope good rains in the remaining days of August will bring a smile on the faces of Ganesha devotees, bringing prosperity to economy,” he said.

Deshmukh’s workforce of 22 artists is all from Pen village in Raigad known for being the largest maker of Ganesha idols in the country.

Every year, the mould of Ganesha idols is changed, with this year seeing over 400 new types of Ganesha idols available.

Retail seller of Ganesha idols, Deepak More said, “Many Ganesha devotees prefer replicas of Lalbaugcha Raja and Dagdusheth Ganapati idols over other kinds.”