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News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Mumbai's Richest Ganpati, GSB King's Circle, Insured For Rs 474.46 Crore: How To Reach Pandal?
Last Updated: GSB Seva Mandal, located at King's Circle in Matunga, is one of Mumbai's most iconic Ganeshotsav mandals, especially revered by the Gowd Saraswat Brahmin community The GSB Seva Mandal of King's Circle, Mumbai, the city's richest Ganesh mandal, has obtained a record insurance cover of Rs 474.46 crore for this year's Ganeshotsav, the Times of India reported. Last year, the cover stood at Rs 400 crore, while it stood at Rs 360.40 crore in 2023. The rise has been attributed to higher valuation of gold and silver ornaments, along with the inclusion of additional volunteers and priests. The insurance policy has been issued by New India Assurance. What does the Rs 474.46-crore insurance policy cover? According to the TOI report, of the total cover: Rs 375 crore is for personal accident insurance, covering volunteers, priests, cooks, valets, and security guards Rs 67 crore is for gold, silver, and jewels, compared to Rs 43 crore in 2024 and Rs 38 crore in 2023 Rs 30 crore: Public liability insurance The deity will be adorned with 66 kg gold ornaments and 336 kg silver this year. About GSB Seva Mandal King's Circle (Mumbai) GSB Seva Mandal, located at King's Circle in Matunga, is one of Mumbai's most iconic Ganeshotsav mandals, especially revered by the Gowd Saraswat Brahmin community. The idol is crafted from eco friendly clay (shadu mati), reinforced with grass and colored using natural paints—maintaining a sustainable approach to decoration. Traditional South Indian temple instruments accompany the celebrations—eschewing recorded music—for an immersive spiritual ambiance Mumbai Ganeshotsav. The mandal is known by devotees as Navsala Pavnara Vishwacha Raja—a name reflecting beliefs in the idol's miraculous blessings. GSB Seva Mandal King's Circle: For how many days does the celebration go on? The mandal's Ganeshotsav is held for the first five days, so you will have to plan an early visit. How to visit GSB Seva Mandal King's Circle? It is situated at the G.S.B. Sports Club Ground, near S.N.D.T. Women's College, on R.A. Kidwai Road, Matunga. Is GSB Seva Mandal King's Circle accessible by train? King's Circle station (Harbour Line): 5-10 minutes walk from there What is the ideal time to visit GSB Seva Mandal King's Circle? Morning hours (6:30 am–11:00 am) are less crowded and offer smoother darshan experiences. Given the proximity, walking spares you auto hassles—especially with festival traffic and limited parking If you're not walking, several BEST bus routes and auto-rickshaws are available from both stations Special arrangements for devotees at GSB Seva Mandal King's Circle Special arrangements have been made for crowd management, with elevated entry systems for puja donors. An elevated walkway (balcony) is thoughtfully installed, allowing devotees to view the idol more closely and comfortably. Rituals at GSB Seva Mandal King's Circle Devotees offer around 60,000 pujas and rituals over the five-day festival, with massive participation in annadaan (sacred meal service)—serving prasad on banana leaves to thousands. Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Eyes of faith, hands of toil: Pen's artisans race against time to complete orders
Pen: Ahead of the Ganpati festival every year, Pen, a small town in Raigad district, comes alive with the clang of hammers and smell of wet clay as nearly 150,000 karigars or artisans labour over long hours, sculpting exquisite Ganpati idols and powering a ₹350-crore economy. Idols measuring more than 6 feet comprise a bulk of the orders at Pen and are made of Plaster of Paris (PoP). (Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo) This year, though, the rush is greater and the thousands of workshops in the town are in overdrive, with artisans working in double shifts to finish nearly 1.8 million idols ahead of August 25, when deliveries are expected to peak. Usually, work on idols measuring more than 6 feet – which comprise a bulk of the orders and are made of Plaster of Paris (PoP) – starts in May. Nationalised banks extend loans of worth more than ₹200 crore to artisans every year to kickstart the process. But this year, work commenced only after the Bombay High Court, on June 9, lifted the ban on use of PoP. 'We lost nearly a month waiting for clarity on PoP,' said Shrikant Deodhar, a senior artisan at Gaon Devi Lane, whose family has been sculpting idols since the 1860s. The delay pushed up the price of PoP by nearly 20–25%, with a sack of PoP now costing ₹2,010. Prices of shaadu clay, bamboo, paints and labour too shot up, forcing artisans to raise prices of idols. Larger idols bore the brunt of cost escalation, said vendors. Ganapti idols made in Pen are discernible from their eyes, which are expressive, intricate, and soulful, and often referred to as 'Pen-style eyes'. In December 2023, these idols were granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, formally recognising local craftsmanship and barring cheap imitations. The tag has helped offset the hike in raw material and idol prices this year, said vendors. 'The GI tag has boosted Pen's brand identity in the domestic market and helped us secure export orders with greater confidence,' said Deodhar. 'It is the eye work that infuses life into the idols we make. Now, buyers everywhere are asking for those eyes.' This year, bulk orders were received from Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nashik, Palghar, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad. Export orders, though modest compared to domestic volumes, also rose significantly, with idols being shipped to the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, and Dubai. 'NRIs want Bappa exactly as they remember from their childhoods — expressive eyes, classic poses, no gimmicks,' said Ravi Jadhav, who coordinates exports near Pen railway station. Eco-friendly idols made of shaadu clay are slowly gaining ground, encouraged by civic drives and free clay distribution, said vendors. But PoP remains the dominant raw material, especially for large idols, due to its moldability and durability, they noted. 'Shaadu clay idols are beautiful but take longer to sculpt,' said Nilesh Samel, who specialises in making mid-sized idols for homes. 'We need more support from the government for these eco-friendly idols to become viable in the long term.'
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Time of India
White clay idols take step forward
Hyderabad: With Ganesh Chaturthi around the corner, Hyderabad's festive markets are witnessing a shift. White clay idols, sourced mainly from Rajasthan, are replacing the conventional plaster of Paris (PoP) idols, reflecting the growing awareness about eco-friendly celebrations. Speaking to TOI, R Shashidhar, general secretary of the Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi and Vishwa Hindu Parishad National spokesperson, said the entry of white clay into Hyderabad's idol markets is changing the way artisans work. "Many artisans are choosing white clay over PoP because it provides the same finish and flexibility to shape idols," he explained. Prices soar due to high transport cost You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad | Gold Rates Today in Hyderabad | Silver Rates Today in Hyderabad He added that one of the reasons for the increase in idol prices this year is the need to bring clay from another state, which raised transport and sourcing costs. White clay, sourced mainly from Rajasthan, was earlier used only in limited numbers, say the city's artisans. Ramesh K, an artisan from Dhoolpet, said, "This is the first time I made more clay idols than plaster ones because of their demand. Buyers are directly asking for white clay, even if it costs more." For idol makers, the change brings both challenges and opportunities. White clay is softer and more time-consuming to mould than PoP, but artisans say it produces a smoother finish and a sturdier idol. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Could This NEW Collagen Blend Finally Reduce Your Cellulite? Vitauthority Learn More Undo "Clay needs more patience. You can't rush it like plaster. But when it dries, the idol looks more natural and lasts longer. Customers appreciate that," said Kiran Jain, an artisan from Khairtabad. While the transition is encouraging for artisans, it has not been easy. The higher cost of clay and transportation worries many. Shankar T N, an artisan from Nalagandla, added, "Right now people are enthusiastic about white clay because of the eco-friendly push. But if costs rise further, we are not sure how many will still buy," said Shankar. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
