“If you visit Chaderghat area and ask for eco-friendly Ganesh idol makers, everybody points at us. What started with the idea of making something useful for the public, has made us popular. I came across an artisan from West Bengal who told me about the Durga mata idols in Kolkata that were made of pure clay and mud. So I thought, why not make our Ganesh idols the same way? Back in the ’90s, the demand for these eco-friendly idols was minimal. We still opted for it, even though the income wasn’t high. Thankfully, today people understand the need to opt for environment-friendly idols.

The process to make these idols is not easy. We need to make a framework and create a mould of dry grass around the plank. Then, it is mixed with pure clay and Kolkata Ganga Mitti. It is a painstaking job and we ensure that the idols are made to suit customer requirements. Initially, we would make 30-40, four feet tall idols. Gradually the height went up to 14 feet and the numbers increased to 200-250 idols every season. Our clay idols celebrate nature and sensitise people about being compassionate towards the planet they live on. It all boils down to how one would want to worship God.”

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