With the approach of Ganesh Chaturthi festival, most clay idol makers are busy giving finishing touches to the deity, reports Bhiva P Parab With Ganesh Chaturthi around the corner local chitrashalas, the place where clay idols are made look busy these days.
Most clay idol makers are caught up with last moment work on the Ganesh idols.
However they said that, faith in Lord Ganesha keeps them going.
The idol makers added that, owing to the escalating cost of paint, labour and clay, the most of the time they face difficulties and decrease in the profits.
Overall idols which are worshipped by families at home are in the mid- range while, the Sarvajanik idols generally cost more than Rs 10,000.
For the clay idol makers the festival is a peak business time and they get themselves involved in the idol making keeping everything aside.
There are some clay idol makers in the state whose business was started by their forefathers.
Some artists get customers from neighbouring state of Maharashtra.
“It is easy to transport PoP idols but people who go in for them do not realize the environmental pollution caused when immersed in water,” said an idol maker.
According to the information available from the sources, the individuals selling Plaster of Paris idols get better profit than clay idols, however, the Plaster of Paris is not a naturally occurring material and when idols made out of Plaster of Paris are immersed in natural water bodies such as lakes, rivers and the sea, it causes water pollution.