Fewer PoP idols for Ganeshotsav likely this year in Pune market after late high court ruling

Time of India

4 days ago

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Pune: Bombay High Court lifted the ban on the manufacture of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols for Ganeshotsav in June, which may result in fewer PoP idols in the market this year.
Idol makers said they have little time to supply enough idols to the market.
Hadapsar-based Sandeep Kumbhar and his team make 8,000 idols every year for the festival. This year, he has barely managed to make 6,000.
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"We have little time to prepare idols this year as the court lifted the ban on PoP idols only in June. In addition, the festival has arrived early this year. There is a huge demand, but we might not be able to supply enough idols on time," said Kumbhar, who runs Sandeep Arts.
Idol makers usually start making a bulk of PoP idols by Jan every year.
This year, however, they were awaiting the court ruling on the manufacture and sale of PoP idols, causing a delay in the process.
Mala Dhanvate, a resident of Wanowrie, said, "There is a waitlist for idols. We usually get 1-foot idols, but this year the vendor told me that there is a crunch in the market."
Abhijeet Abnave, who sells Ganapati idols in the city, said, "There is definitely going to be a shortage of PoP idols in the market this year.
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The rains have also started early, so idols are taking longer to dry. It takes about four days for each PoP idol to dry. Owing to the increased demand, idols are also 20-25% costlier this year than last year."
PoP idols are this year likely to cost Rs 1,000 instead of Rs 700 last year.
Nilesh Parsekar, who runs Vishwakarma Arts in Katraj, said there is a shortage of artists, as well.
"Owing to the lack of clarity on the manufacture of PoP idols, limited idols were made.
Now, there is a rush to make the idols, and labour is in high demand," he said.
Artist Bhalchanda Deshmukh from Shukrawar Peth said the demand for Ganapati idols has increased significantly this year from mandals, homes, and even abroad. "We are working day and night to fulfil the demand," he said.
Dhananjay Rajput, an artist from Kondhwa Budruk, who has been making idols for the last 25 years, echoed similar sentiments. "We usually make and sell 4,500 idols every year. This year, we have made only 2,500. We are paying the same warehouse rent and labour charges for 2,500 idols, so we have no option but to increase the price," he said.
Dinesh Patil, a resident of Aundh, said he'll switch to a clay idol this year, considering the limited supply of PoP models.