Pen is known for its mass production of Ganesh idols. This town in Raigad district is the hub for several idol-makers for generations. Viren Patil, a third generation murtikaar from Pen, is upset with the directive. He tells us, “I make 5,000 clay idols and 5,000 PoP idols every year.

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PoP idols in Viren Patil’s workshop

If the BMC sends a directive to us right before the festival, what will we do with the idols we have already made?” However, he does not fully oppose the ban on PoP. “Had we been notified about this development last year, we would not have produced so many PoP murtis. If this directive was implemented in 2024, we would have gladly followed. We expect time to execute this change.”
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Time is of essence

Ketan Vinde works on his handmade clay idol in Mahim

Ketan Vinde has been making clay idols for the past 30 years. At his small workshop in Mahim, he creates 100 to 125 Ganesh idols every year. “It is true that clay idols are eco-friendly and can help make a difference to the environment, but to make clay idols, one needs enough space and time. A single clay idol takes at least four to five days. Even if the BMC provides clay to us, it is not possible to mass-produce idols in such a short span,” he explains. Vinde adds that while time is a key issue, the new directive poses a monetary challenge as well. “Clay idols are expensive because they are time-consuming and require skill and precision. There are not many takers of these murtis. A well-planned out directive would have helped us instead of sending out last-minute notices,” Vinde states.
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