In This Andhra Town, Artisans Have Been Crafting Eco-friendly Ganesha Idols For 30 Years

For the past 30 years, artisans have been crafting Ganesha idols near Moram village on the national highway leading to V Kota in Palamaner town, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh. This craft is their primary source of income. The entire family stays at home for four months, and for the remaining eight months, they set up a tent in a different location and start making idols, continuing this long-standing tradition. The Ganesha idols made here are in high demand because they are crafted using eco-friendly materials like paper, pure flour, and bamboo sticks, making them both beautiful and environmentally safe.

Subramanyam, an owner of the idols, mentioned to Local 18 that they use paper instead of clay, as it’s not feasible to create large idols with clay. Ellappa, a resident of Moram village, chose idol making to earn a living and has been running his business in Madanapalle town. His business has flourished with substantial profits, expanding significantly. To avoid potential losses from hiring labourers, his entire family is trained in idol making, and they have developed a deep passion for the craft, earning them a unique place in this field.

Initially, they used Plaster of Paris (POP) to make Ganesha idols. Although this method increased demand, the government eventually banned it due to its environmental impact, prompting the artisans to discontinue its use. They explained that using clay limits the height of the idols, making them only one or two feet tall. Customers often prefer taller idols. To meet this demand without harming the environment, they began using materials like paper, pure flour, and bamboo. They can create a wide variety of idols as requested, and these idols dissolve completely in water within half an hour, posing no harm to aquatic life or nature. This is why they favour these materials.

Summer is the best time to make idols, while the rainy season is less suitable because the idols need to dry properly. It takes at least nine days to make one idol. They typically start the idol-making process in January so that the idols are ready by Ganesh Chaturthi after eight months of hard work. They have been making idols for 30 years, as mentioned to Local 18. Devotees place orders in advance to purchase their idols, with many coming from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu as well to buy them in large numbers.