Hyderabad: The artisans who used to spend a lot of time crafting idols for the Ganesh Festival in Hyderabad are now buying readymade idols from other states to make more money easily. These readymade idols are now being sold in every part of the city, as local artisans who have been making idols for many years are now selling idols from Solapur, Maharashtra.
In the past, these artisans used to start preparing idols three months before the festival and give them final touches closer to the date. However, they are now less interested in making idols themselves and are focusing on selling readymade ones. They only make idols on orders or customizations requested by devotees.
In the markets of Hyderabad, including Dhoolpet, where there are many idol makers, the Ganesh idols available this year are from neighboring Maharashtra. These readymade idols are becoming popular in the Hyderabad market because they are cheaper than the ones made by local artisans.
Kailash Singh Hazari Murthy Kalakar, the vice-president of the Telangana Idol Makers’ Welfare Association, said that orders for making idols from local customers have decreased in recent years. He explained that if an artisan starts making idols without receiving orders, they will face a huge loss. The artisans spend a lot of money making the idols, so it is not financially viable for them to make idols without guaranteed customers.
According to Singh, the artisans used to sell five-foot idols for Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000. However, the readymade idols from other states are being sold for Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000. Traders in the market are selling these idols at double or triple the price, labeling them as “Sholapur Ganesh.” Devotees who welcome Ganpati Bappa into their homes are also spending more money on these idols brought from Solapur. Idols from Solapur and Nagpur have become popular all over the city.
