Pune: Citizens don creative hats to shape their own green Ganapati idols

PUNE: Several residents of the city have utilized their time at home to mould their own Ganapati out of clay this Ganeshotsav instead of buying an idol from the market. Equipped with clay, paint and an assortment of tools available at home, Punekars have put on their creative hats to make an idol unlike any found in the market.
BT Kawade Road resident Revvati Patil has made a larger replica of a small Ganesh idol she had at home as an experiment. “The pandemic has made me reluctant to go out and purchase an idol since I have a small child at home. My husband and I decided to experiment with the idol and if it did not turn out fine, we had planned to buy one. However, it has turned out very well and we will consecrate the idol on Chaturthi,” she explained. Patil said that she used the clay from the immersion of last year’s idol to mould the new one.

Sharayu Bobade whitewashes the Ganapati idol that she scuplted before painting it
Another Punekar based in Adelaide, Australia, Smita Ugale also used clay saved from last year’s idol to create one at home. “We always bought clay Ganesh idols from Indian stores here and the immersion was done at home. Last year, I retained the clay after immersion. I have used it to create an idol. The entire process of bringing the idol to life was fulfilling. I feel there is an appeal that adds an allure to your mind when you make the pagdi, dhoti, pearl garland and other accessories. It has been an overwhelming experience to create the idol,” Ugale stated.
City-based software engineer Sharayu Bobade has been crafting idols at home for several years. “In 2010-11, I would buy the idols and paint them at home. Thereafter, I started sculpting idols myself too. I had old clay at home and I used it to create the idol. I used an assortment of tools from spoons and forks to visiting cards and pens to carve the idol. It takes about five to six hours to mould an idol correctly and it has to be done in one seating. The painting and finishing can be done once the clay dries sufficiently. I use acrylic paints on the idol as it peels off during immersion. Apart from creating my idols, I have also been making eco-friendly decor at home for the last two years,” Bobade shared.