Vendors pitch Baahubali Ganesh this season

Hyderabad: Vendors of Ganesh idols have become market savvy. Having witnessed the popularity and run-away success of Baahubali, as if to cash in on the craze, vendors this season have sculpted their “Baahubali- Ganesh” models. Now, we have on sale special idols of Lord Ganesh astride an elephant à la Prabhas, along with the traditional idols.

Ganesha holding up a Shiv-linga that was the rage last year, has ceded place to the grandeur and opulence of “Baahubali- The Conclusion”. Some Ganeshas are shown seated on a decorated throne similar to the sets shown in the movie. Says Mahender, a vendor, “Customers look for the most unique and aesthetically appealing idols to adorn their homes.

We find takers for the unique designs we bring in, even if they are expensive.” The roads of Dhoolpet, Hayathnagar, Peddamberpet and Uppal are lined on both sides with Ganesh idols on sale. In their efforts to be strikingly different, vendors have three distinct models of Ganesh idols— the Hyderabadi model made by the Rajasthani idol makers, Sholapur model, and the Kolkata model.

Pointing out the subtle differences, Chandu, a vendor says, “The Hyderabad-made idols depict Ganesha’s trunk pointing to the right hand-side while the Sholapur model has Ganesha’s trunk extending to his left, towards the laddu in his hand.

The trunk is also elongated. The Kolkata model shows Ganesha with six arms instead of four, drawing a parallel to Goddess Durga.”

Other PoP models are designed to give the idol the effect of a hewn stone sculpture, and a look similar to the Thirupathi Balaji idol. Another model shows Ganesha mounted on Garuda, the mythical humanoid bird, grappling with a snake that is fashioned to look like a Chinese dragon. Monochrome Ganeshas are also in vogue.

Are all the models made in Hyderabad or are they sourced from elsewhere? A little known fact is that some idols come from Mumbai. Mahender and his boss, Rakesh, say that they transport the idols every year from Mumbai. “These idols are a mix of Plaster of Paris (PoP) and mud. The finishing is different and hence the rates are also high,” says Mahinder.

A five feet tall idol costs Rs 25,000. The Bahubali idol is priced at Rs 7000, though it is a mere three feet. “The appearance and the marble glow of these Mumbai idols are different”, argues Mahinder. “Besides, we spend Rs 1200 for transport on each idol. We need to recover these costs.” When they are not selling idols, they are busy selling fruits at Monda Market the rest of the year.

Says Santosh, another vendor, “I buy the plain white Ganeshas, get them painted in Mumbai, and shift them here. I pay Rs. 1500 for painting each idol and also the cost of paints.”

Has the Green Ganesha campaign dented the sales of the vendors? The answer seems to be no. “All our wares get sold”, says Chandu, a vendor of PoP idols. “I have wares here worth ten lakh rupees, and I am confident of earning a profit of at least five to six lakhs.”

“People don’t care whether the idol is made of clay or PoP as long as it appeals to them. The clay idols are not as attractive as the PoP ones”, says Mahinder. “We make a profit every year and hope to do the same this year too.”

However, Sarita, a clay idol vendor, differs. “Traditionally, it was always recommended to use clay idols at home for worship. Lots of people come and buy the clay idols out of choice, though they cost more. They buy the PoP ones only for display on the roads.” The clay idols, made of terracotta mud, are all from Kolkata, Gorakhpur, and Gujarat. They get a fresh coat of paint in gold and silver to make them look attractive. The prices of clay idols are roughly double that of the PoP idols, and the smallest ones are priced at Rs 150.

The maximum size for a clay idol is five feet. “They crumble easily, and so we cannot make the large idols with clay”, says Santosh. “Besides, where is the clay for it? The soil of this region is not suitable for making good quality idols”, he says. “I invest around seven lakhs into this business, but the profits are meagre.”

While the cumbersome exercise of giving a fresh coat of paint with all hues continues, the makers of idols, especially the migrants from Rajasthan, who belong to the Parjavat-Pavri tribe, an offshoot of the Marwari community groan under the weight of loans and interest from money lenders. Profits are pocketed by middle men who buy the idols from them and sell them on the roadside at double the original price paid to the idol-makers.

“Local moneylenders lend us money at 10 per cent interest, used for raw materials, food, and rent,” says Ramu, an idol-maker from Rajasthan. “If we default on payment after the season, we pay an additional 2 per cent interest the coming year, and 14 per cent the year after that, and so on.”

Hope and pray, Lord Ganesh, the remover of obstacles, comes to their rescue and usher in more happiness in homes of one and all. (A J-Hub initiative)

By: Sushma Nagaraj & Sneha Verghese