By Shyam Zambauliker

MARGAO: Hectic activities are going on in various talukas of South Goa particularly in the villages for preparing Lord Ganesh idols. Idol makers are busy to meet the enormous demand for Lord Ganesha idols for the annual event scheduled in the month of September.

There is a huge demand for Lord Ganesha idols worshiped during Ganesh Chaturthi and the idol makers along with their workers are working overtime to meet orders placed for idols of various colours, sizes, and designs. The orders have to be completed within one month, said an idol maker.

The countdown to the 10-day festivities of Ganesha Chaturthi has begun in South Goa particularly in Margao the commercial centre with local as well as artists from elsewhere involved in the work. The schedule will turn hectic by the latter part of August.

"We usually start preparing the Ganesha idols from second week of July as the customers order their idols in advance and accordingly sketches are drawn and customers’ consent is taken before working on it, said the owner of chitrashala.

He said that idols may become costly this year as the raw material has become costly including wages of the artisans. "We have started the work and I think in another three to four weeks time we will complete orders placed. We prepare idols of different sizes and this year we have received several orders," he said.

According to him, preparing small-sized Ganesh idols is easy and less time-consuming but it takes more time to prepare a five-feet Ganesha idol and over ten days for a 6-feet high idol. He said that over a period of one month, hundreds of idols are made in batches. Once the idols acquire a proper shape, a whitewash coat is rendered. The idol is left for drying till the third or fourth week of August. This is when the actual painting of the idols begins.

According to another artist from station road, few days before the festival a majority of the idols are fully painted and given final touches. The most absorbing or skilful area of work for artisans is in the synchronised painting of the eyes and adding a touch of divine expression to the overall face of Lord Ganesha. He felt the idol-making industry is basically unorganised and thus it makes it difficult to estimate the total number of idols made each year. It exists more like a cottage industry.

A Hindu priest from Margao said that Ganesh Chaturthi festival ushers in a season of joyous celebration all over South Goa. Besides the religious significance, the festival is an occasion for family members to reunite and seek the blessings of Lord
Ganesha, he added.