Jayati Godhawat
JWB Blogger
The Sculptors Of Ganesh Idols Are Struggling To Earn A Proper Meal
- JWB Post
- September 5, 2016
Ganesha Chaturthi is observed as an auspicious day when the Hindu God Ganesh, the elephant-headed son of Lord Shiva and Parvati, is worshipped.
The festival is celebrated throughout India where people install (stahpit) idols of Ganesh at homes and various public pandals.
The idol can be of various sizes and are booked and made months before the main day. In Jaipur, too, there are a number of sculptors who specialize in creating beautiful idols in different sizes.
JWB visited the workplace of the most popular sculptors in the city, at Amer Road.
For them, sculptures and idols are the main sources of their livelihood. Unfortunately, the idols are not eco-friendly and take up to months to dissolve in water as they are mostly made out of Plaster of Paris (PoP). And, this is why people are not buying from them and are searching for alternatives.
This has affected them to a great extent. And, when we talked to them, they explained that due to lesser sales and bookings since last year, it has become difficult for them to arrange everyday meals also.
“Our whole family is into sculpting. We came from villages as there’s no money in agriculture, here (in Rajasthan). Ganesh Chaturthi is one festival which helps us save a few bucks for coming months,” said one of the distressed sculptors.
“However, now people are not buying. And, we are struggling for a meal, also. We are habitual of hunger, but, it pains me when my kids have to sleep hungry.”
Yes, we should not buy something that’s not eco-friendly. But the main reason that they use Pop is that it is cheaper than other materials and the buyers don’t want to pay more.
Think about it! If we are willing to pay more, then they will also start making eco-friendly paints and materials. So, instead of fully discarding them and taking away their bread and butter, let’s encourage them to create soluble idols by paying a bit more?
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