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

The process is not easy as we have to make a framework and create a mould of dry grass around the plank. Later, it is mixed with pure clay and Kolkata Ganga mitti. It is a painstaking job and we ensure the models of idols match customer requirements. Initially, we used to make 30-40 pieces of Ganesha of four feet. Gradually the height went up to 14 feet. Now, we make 200-250 idols every season. Our clay idols celebrate nature and sensitise people to be compassionate regarding the planet they sleep in. It is about how you want to worship your God.”

• KK Mondal, Clay Friendly Artisan