Clay Ganesh idols ready for Ganapati festival

A fifteen feet heigh Dhyana Buddha clay Ganesh Idol is being made ready for the Ganesh Chaturthi Festival, which will start from September 5. What’s special about it was that it was made of clay, straw, bamboo and wood material. The government is taking steps to protect water pollution by using clay Idols instead of Plaster Of Paris (POP).

Clay Ganesh idols are being made at the Nunna Mango market on the outskirts of Vijayawada. Ganesh idols manufacturers Anand and Mahesh are making 140 types of Eco-Friendly idols for the first time in AP, which are from seven to 15 feet in height. Making each idol has its unique form and is the specialty of the artist.

He is also making ‘Mushika Vahaka Ganesh’, ‘Pallaki Vahaka Ganesh’, ‘Tiger Vahaka Ganesh’, ‘Simha Vahaka Ganesh’ and ‘Gaja Vahaka Ganesh’ idols. They design clay idols with different types of oil and water colours to attract buyers. The idols range from Rs 2,000 to Rs 50,000.

Ganesh idols manufacturers are giving high priority to clay idols for this festival to protect water pollution. Unfortunately, the Ganesh Chaturthi festival organisations have doubts over the strength and fitness of these idols. Keeping this in mind, the artists have taken so many precautionary measures to make these eco-friendly idols strong enough and fit for transportation.

“We take all necessary steps to keep it strong for transport. I personally make sure the idols delivered without damage and we make the idol strong enough to be transported for its immersion. We make idols using local clay, bamboo, wood and straw. Immersion of these idols will not pollute the water,” said artist Mahesh.

By Dasari Srinivasa Rao