Ganesh Chaturthi 2020: Devotees opt for small sized idols

Due to coronavirus, this time people are buying small idols of Lord Ganesha for Ganesh Chaturthi. A person who came to get the idol said, 'Before we used to get a big idol, we have to get a small idol because of the pandemic.This time the idol will be installed in the house itself.

Delhi: This time people are preferring to take a clay idol instead of the traditional one made out of plaster of paris.

A sculptor said, Prior idols made from plaster of paris was sold but now we bring and sell idols made from clay. A clay sculpture costs more. My regular customers are installing idols. These people buy the same idol every year

A sculptor from Ahmedabad says, that the demand for eco-friendly sculptures has increased this time.

Due to coronavirus the sale of idols of Lord Ganesha for Ganesh Chaturthi has come down significantly as compared to last year. "Earlier I had orders for 150 sculptures at this time and this time I have only 10-12 orders says one of the dealers.

Due to COVID-19 the artisans who make idols of Lord Ganesha before the annual Ganpati Mahotsav in Maharashtra are facing difficulties. These difficulties include difficulty finding raw materials and restrictions on sculptures taller than four feet.

Ganeshotsav is the most popular festival in Maharashtra. Pandals set up by various mandals across the state attract thousands of devotees during the ten-day festival. This year the festival will be celebrated on August 22.

The order stated that the height of the statues installed on the house should not more than exceed two feet. Ganesh Jobale, a sculptor from Begumpura area in Aurangabad, said, “This time the trade was very low. The raw material for making the statue is brought from Gujarat. This year the raw material are quite expensive.

"We work all year round to make big Ganesha statues. But this year a statue of more than four feet height cannot be sold which is causing us losses. Now we have to keep these big statues for next year."