Date:01/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/01/stories/2008090150830300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Eluru

Varied sizes, vibrant colours

Staff Reporter

Ganesh idols made by artists from Rajasthan attract the attention of many

Ganesha calling: A worker giving the finishing touches to Vinayaka idols in Eluru.

ELURU: The small group of people from Rajasthan living on the margins of the min-bypass road on the city outskirts in abject poverty hardly draws the attention of the passers-by.

But, their exquisite art of making Ganesh idols hogs the limelight as Vinayaka Chavithi fast approaches. Art lovers are particularly fascinated by their creations.

Cottage industry

For men, women, children and the aged, idol-making is a cottage industry. With the nimble hands at work, Ganesha takes shape in different sizes starting from 8 ft. An 8 ft idol fetches them Rs. 3000 to Rs. 5,000.

For an idol of that size, 15 workers toil for a whole day, says Sukki, who inherited the art from her parents and grandparents.

The families migrated to Eluru a couple of decades ago and started idol-making near Zilla Parishad office in the heart of the city.

They were displaced and pushed to a corner of the city when a shopping complex came on the site to house a corporate retail shop.

“There are no rains in our State and our area is turning into a desert, forcing us to migrate to far-off places,” Sukki says.

Fund crunch

“Making idols of any god is quite easy,” says Mangilal. Plaster of Paris powder, coir and sticks are the raw materials for the idols.

“After the idols take a final shape, spray polish with colours of customers’ choice needs to be applied,” he adds.

Big sized idols have been purchased from Surat and Ahmadabad this time as they did not have money to procure the raw material, says Sukki.

The rows of Ganesha idols in different sizes and vibrant colours is an awe-inspiring sight.