Clay Ganesha idols gain favour. But where will artisans find the clay?

Bengaluru: With officials cracking down on Plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesha idols ahead of the Gowri-Ganesha festival on September 14, traditional clay idol makers in Bengaluru are seeing demand rise. But sourcing suitable clay is becoming increasingly difficult.Fourth-generation idol maker Shivanand of Pottery Town recalls when Nagawara Lake was a key source of clay. Artisans once sourced clay from lake beds, sometimes 100-150 feet deep. Rapid urbanisation and the loss of water bodies have now cut off these traditional sources.“We aren’t getting it locally anymore because all the lakes have been closed up; everything has become buildings now,” an artisan said.Bengaluru workshops to make eco-friendly clay idols this Ganesh ChaturthiGaneshotsav 2025 sees rise of ‘Mahavatar Narasimha’ style idolsIdol makers now source specialised clay from far-off locations, including Chikkagubbi and parts of neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Higher costs of clay, paint, labour and transportation have further squeezed their margins.Yet, artisans say they have kept price hikes modest to retain customers.“We only increase the price by Rs 10, Rs 20, or maybe Rs 50 to Rs 100 for smaller idols. If we increase it too much, customers walk away,” said artisan Selvi.While civic authorities have banned PoP idols over their impact on water bodies, artisans say illegal sales continue, especially just before the festival.“It’s a menace. Two days before the festival, unlicensed sellers flood the market with PoP idols and make quick money,” said Shivanand.At 8th Cross Road in Malleswaram, third-generation artisan Venkatesh said customer tastes are also changing, with children seeking idols inspired by popular superheroes.“Children don’t want the same traditional designs every year. They want their idols to look like the heroes they watch on screen. Spider Man-style Ganeshas with web patterns on the trunk and idols holding Captain America’s shield instead of a modak are trending heavily,” he said.Artisans feel the pinch Shivanand, traditional idol artisan: “The clay from Nagavara Lake was unmatched. Its unique plasticity made it easy to shape and mould.”Jagadeeshwari, veteran artisan: “Everything has become more expensive — paint, clay, labour, everything.”

Source: Deccan Herald