Ganeshotsav Goes Greener

Time of India

5 hours ago

Ahead of Ganeshotsav, Mumbai is witnessing a surge in eco-friendly Ganesha idol-making workshops, attracting both beginners and experienced artists. Participants are learning the art of sculpting with clay, guided by expert instructors who emphasize the meditative and culturally enriching aspects of the process. These workshops blend creativity, tradition, and sustainability, fostering a deeper appreciation for the festival.
With Ganeshotsav around the corner, eco-friendly Ganesha idol-making workshops are popping up across Mumbai. From first-timers to seasoned artists, participants are learning to sculpt their own clay idols—embracing creativity, tradition and sustainability in the process.
'Making eco-friendly Ganesh idols is a growing trend'
Ritika Jhunjhunwala, who organises multiple workshops in Mumbai, explains the rising popularity of these sessions, 'We do these Ganpati idol making workshops a month before Ganeshotsav. Many people want to create their little idols, and we give them the entire kit at the start of the workshop. Making eco-friendly Ganesha idols is a growing trend, and people love to learn how to sculpt from scratch.
The difficulty level at our workshop is based on individual capabilities.
Most of the time, anyone can create an idol by following the step-by-step instructions.'
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'Sculpting is a form of meditation'
Expertise meets enthusiasm at these workshops. Sandeep Jadhav, one of the expert instructors at one of the workshops, says, 'I have been a clay sculptor for around 25 years. This workshop included complete novices and first-timers who had never worked with clay before.
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However, almost all of the participants, including the younger ones, picked it up. Clay is a beautiful medium to create sculptures.' Mukund Jahagirdar, an architect and passionate artist from Andheri, has been conducting workshops for over a decade.
Reflecting on his inspiration, the 75-year-old shares, 'I was introduced to it by my mother, who taught using simple kitchen tools like spoons and knives. Since that time, I have tried to make a Ganesh idol every year.'
He adds, 'Painting and sculpting are forms of meditation, something I practice and deeply enjoy. This workshop raised my confidence to a new high! I had never taught anyone to make a standing Ganesh in just three hours, especially those who had never touched clay before.'
'These workshops introduce one to the culture and traditions'
Dr. Ankita Patil from Colaba, who had never handled clay before, says, 'This year I wanted to make an eco-friendly Ganesh idol and came across Jahagirdar Sir's page on Instagram.
I was a bit apprehensive, but this workshop proved all my fears baseless. Sir explained everything.' She adds, 'Making the idol was not just about putting pieces of clay together but understanding body proportions, paying attention to physical details, including posture and cloth drape.
The best thing was that this workshop wasn't just about making a Ganapati idol, but it was a beginner's class on the art of sculpting itself.
The three-and-a-half-hour workshop was a fulfilling and meditative experience for me.'
Siana and Sasha Sadrangani, visiting from New Jersey, were equally impressed. 'It was a great experience, and I think I realized how difficult it is to do this. It's a lot more delicate than I imagined, and it was an amazing experience.' Amrita Wadia from Borivli echoed the sentiment, 'I loved the workshop. Today's workshop made me realise just how difficult it is for artisans to make an idol from scratch.
This time when I celebrate Ganeshotsav, I will have a better understanding of what it is all about.
'
Vibhuti Dilip Prerana Sathe, a returning participant, at Iteeha, shared, 'Earlier I had learnt this online, but doing this live was great. Honestly, sculpting Ganu is one of my absolute favourite things to do! I love shaping his belly (always filled with modaks!), those cute cheeks, the tiny modak in his hand, and everything about him.
Sir shared the soul of idol-making and taught how to bring your sculpture to life.
' Artistically inclined Pooja Bhagiya said, 'I had done a Madhubani course from Iteeha earlier, and that's how I came to know about this workshop. These kinds of workshops, I feel, really introduce one to the culture and traditions.' Nidhi Shroff added, 'This is the second time I attended Sir's workshop. He is incredibly organized, provided all materials, and patiently guided me to sculpt a beautiful idol.
He has a unique way of helping each participant make a stunning idol with ease,' says Nidhi Shroff.
Radhika Mittal from Kharghar, a DIY enthusiast, added, 'I love craft and anything DIY. I love making things by hand, and nothing can get better than this – creating an eco-friendly Ganesha idol from scratch with your bare hands, some clay, and basic tools. I love the feel of it.' Mahima from Kandivli, a visual designer, shares, 'I have always been interested in art and am into Indian folk art, and this is the first time I did a workshop using clay to create an idol.
This workshop was about blending faith, creativity, and sustainability in a meaningful way.'
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