Idols made with eco-friendly materials gain ground ahead of Vinayaka Chaturthi festival
Sculptors in Tiruchi are increasingly using eco-friendly materials like tapioca flour and paper paste to craft Ganesh idols for the upcoming Vinayaka Chaturthi festival. Meanwhile, local organizations are promoting sustainable practices by hosting workshops that teach families to create idols using clay and seeds.
Why it matters
The shift toward biodegradable materials addresses growing environmental concerns regarding the pollution of waterbodies during traditional idol immersion rituals.
Idols made with eco-friendly material are becoming popular in Tiruchi ahead of Vinayaka Chaturthi.
Traditional sculptor S. Periyasami has been crafting what is known as the grand ‘Bombay model’ of processional Ganesh idols for decades. Working from his home-based workshop at Nangamangalam Chathiram village near Samayapuram, with his family members and some hired help, he has created at least 60 large scale idols that range in size from 3 feet to 10 feet this year. All of them use tapioca flour kneaded and set in die-cast moulds. The different parts are held together with the help of sticks and natural adhesive pastes.
Prices range upwards of ₹3,000 per foot with the largest statue being priced ₹30,000.
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