Ganapathy A., an artisan from Kosapet in Purasawalkam, Chennai, is hard at work. His head is bent low, as if in reverence to the god above. His brow is furrowed in concentration. Fingers move in rhythm — moulding the clay, rolling it into shape, and finally, fashioning Ganesha’s head. The once mushy clay, is now a fully-moulded, medium-sized idol.
As it is Vinayaka Chaturthi, Ganapathy, like every other artisan in Kosapet, has no time for small talk. Every minute wasted, is an incomplete idol and money lost. Making idols has been the traditional livelihood of over 400 families in the area for a long time.
It takes the artisans a year before they can have multi-coloured Ganeshas of various sizes ready to be sold. “We first have to make a model figure, after which we make an imprint of it in a plaster of Paris mould,” explains Jayanti R., yet another artisan. “Once this is done, depending on the size we intend to make and the number of co-workers, we make at least 50 figures a day.”
On the decline
This has been the traditional profession for many families living here for generations now. Sadly, it is a dying art. The younger generation is not interested in pursuing it.
“It has been a family profession and I’ve been making idols for almost 25 years now,” says Jayanti, as she looks at an idol, a paint-tipped brush in her hand. She bends low to add the finishing touches. “It would be nice if the next generation takes up this profession, but I don’t see it happening. My daughter Latha, for instance, has no interest. In fact, she spends extra time at school to avoid working on the idols.”
Lack of governmental support and space constraints also fuel the artisans’ woes. “The government has not done anything to make our lives better. Also, numerous restrictions are placed on us by people who say these idols cause environmental pollution,” artisan Vasumathi, adds resignedly.
