Kings of Clay Rise, but Plaster of Paris Ganeshas Refuse to Leave

Clay idols are on the rise but city doesn’t given up it’s obsession with plaster of paris.

Ganesha Chaturthi is the harvest festival for Bengaluru's Pottery town. Ahead of the festival, the town comes alive with Ganeshas of every size and style, occupying every inch of space on its footpaths.

While previous years has seen the market filled with brightly painted synthetic idols, it’s the clay Ganeshas that has taken prominence this year. It is unclear whether it is the fear of being caught for selling banned plaster of Paris (PoP) idols that is driving the demand for clay idols. However, merchants insist it’s the clay Ganeshas that are the big draw this festival season.

The manufacturing and sale of PoP idols have been banned in Bengaluru since 2014, after unsolvable materials and synthetic colours used in them caused severe damage to the city’s lakes.

Despite the increase in sales of clay idols, the grey market still gets large orders for PoP Ganeshas. The PoP idols are not available in the open. But if you ask around and if you are willing to spend a little extra cash, many merchants will take you to their godowns, where you can collect a PoP idol.

In some stores, the strong smell of synthetic paint fills the room, even though all the idols on display are made of clay.

The price difference

An eco-friendly, clay idol can cost anywhere between Rs 500 to Rs 1000, depending on the size. However, for the PoP idols, the price starts at Rs 1,500. Then why is there such a high demand for them? According to merchants, compared to clay models, which have limited designs, PoP Ganeshas come with more variety.

“As there is competition in neighbourhoods as to who has the best-looking Ganesha idols, there is demand for unique designs. And when there is demand, there is supply. Also, if you pay a little bribe at the gates or if you know someone big, authorities will allow you to immerse PoP idols as well,” explained Thangavel, one of the merchants on Pottery Road.

The Ban

In 2014, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) issued a ban for the first time on the use and immersion of PoP idols. But the manufacturers asked for time to exhaust their existing stock. Over time, the ban was not enforced.

Once again in 2016, the ban was reintroduced. However, KSPCB officials said that the lack of enforcement from the government department, especially in checking the inflow of such idols from neighbouring states, has left the ban largely on paper.

Fresh Eco-Friendly Designs

With several campaigns pushing for eco-friendly idols, the market has over time evolved. New designs and innovations are being introduced in the clay Ganeshas. Deepika, who runs Shivananda Stores, said that clay idols with seeds are capturing people’s imagination. “So, we began offering idols with seeds embedded inside. After they are disposed, the Ganesha becomes a tree. Even though they are costly, many environmentally conscious people are coming forward to purchase them,” she said.

It is only on Friday evening, at the immersion points, that we’ll really know whether this season will be any different. KSPCB officials said that although clear instructions have been given to stop PoP idols, its implementation would be difficult. Trusting Bengalureans to be more eco-sensitive, the Pollution Control Board says that they hope this Ganesh chaturthi a sustainable environment takes precedence over everything else.

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