COVID-19 has hit the world famous Ganpati idol makers of Pen taluka

The association of Ganpati Idol makers has estimated a loss of about Rs.500 Crores in Pen Taluka 

Mumbai : The Ganpati idol makers of Pen in Raigad district of Maharashtra are known world over for their mastery at making the idols of the Vighnaharta (one who dispels troubles). The idol makers are faced with a peculiar problem as they are unable to deliver their idols which they normally begin from the month of March every year. This time around, the COVID-19 pandemic has posed a new problem.

The idol makers from Pen have production capacity of 12 to 15 lakh Ganpati idols. The Pen city alone has about 5,000 workshops which produce no less than 10 lakhs Ganpati idols.

Ganpati festival is popular across India and is the biggest religious festival for all. Pen exports its eco-friendly Ganpati idols to America, Canada, Singapore, Dubai, Malaysia, Bangkok and London. In India Pen exports Ganpati idols to Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Indore, Rajasthan, Banaras, Goa and in other districts of Maharashtra and wherever Ganpati festival is celebrated in a big way.

Due to the nationwide lockdown due to the Coronavirus, Pen has not able to deliver its idol from the month March. The export of Ganpati idols begins in the month of March and April. However, following the lockdown from March 25, the entire idol making business from Pen taluka has stopped.

The association – Shri Ganesh Murtikar and Commercial Kalyankari Mandal (SGMACKM) authorities during lockdown visited the Banks who have loaned the idol makers. According to the association estimated loan by the idol makers is Rs .100 crore.

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Shrikant Deodhar the President of SGMACKM said, “The idol makers have taken maximum business loan from Bank of India and the second line banks are Bank of Baroda and Bank of Maharashtra. The estimated loan by the idol makers is approximately Rs.125 crores.”

The business was badly hit after the Union Environment Ministry placed restrictions on use of plaster of paris. The association had this year written the Union Environment Minister Prakash Jawdekar asking him to lift the ban imposed on the use of plaster of paris in idol making. 

The idol makers in Pen take business loans from the banks to run their workshops throughout the year. “The loan is needed to procure raw materials, machinery and even for the payment of labourers. Every idol maker takes minimum Rs. 30 to Rs 40 lakhs loan to sustain the year. This is the only time one gets back the returns on investments made. However the business today is absolutely zero, “said Bharat Pawar, owner of workshop remarked.

Nilesh Waskar another idol maker and owner of workshop explained that due to restrictions on usage of plaster of Paris in making idol the business is already hit. He added “About 4,000 idols of Ganpati are produced in my workshop. They are as per the clients demand however none have approached me as of now. I fear how to sell these idols now.” 

Anil Dhere an idol maker from Pen explained that the idols of Ganpati are ready at all workshops. “Mumbai, Pune, Nashik and Aurangabad are where the Ganpati festival is celebrated in a big way. However these cities are in red zone and hence so far there is no business. “

“The situation started shaping up after unlock 1.0, although main buyers of idols come from containment zones like Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Kolhapur. The business has definitely hampered. Only after end of June the situation can be assessed again,” added Deodhar.