Flu or inflation, Ganesha goes on

Swine flu, recession, and inflation may be wreaking havoc in life of a common man. But despite these factors or, perhaps, because of

them, people are flocking to elephant deity like never before.

The lord of knowledge and wisdom is all set to arrive for his ten-day sojourn on August 23. As the Orange city braces itself to welcome Ganesha in its 116th year, the numbers of organisations as well as families installing the Vighnaharta (one who wards off evil) have grown manifold.

Ganesha’s over centuryold bastion in the city — Chitar Oli — is abuzz with artisans giving finishing touches to the idols. However, with swelling demand, concerns about avoiding environmental damage have also increased.

“We have hiked prices by 15-20% but the demand keeps growing every year. The hike was necessary because price of raw-materials and labour have both shot up,” Vidarbha Chitra-Murti Kala Vikas Sanstha president Mulchand Gaur told TOI. The Chitar Oli based organisation has over 150 members, mainly artisans engaged in making idols.

An old member of the organisation Kamlakar Ingle, whose idols have gone to places like Thailand, said prices had definitely increased but demand was still double. “We have to refuse new orders due to severe clogging of space in narrow-lanes of Chitar Oli," the 59-year-old veteran says. One of lady artisans Sonika Mahurkar expressed concern over growing inflation. “Due to price rise, raw material prices are touching the sky,” she says.

Another artist Vijay Darlinge feels that plaster of paris (PoP) idols are affecting the business. “These idols are easy to make and look stunning due to colours. However, they do not immerse easily and thus cause pollution in water bodies,” he says.

Dipak Ingle informs that he has orders from as far as Chennai, but he also feels that PoP makers are ruining the business. “There is no effect of swine flu or recession, but PoP idols are fast eating into the market due to their good finish,” he informs.

Nonetheless, from next week the state government, which is already battling the flu menace, will have to really pull up its socks for challenging festival season ahead. The season that starts with arrival of elephant deity on Sunday.