One of the major feasts of the season, ‘Chowoth’, Ganesh Chaturthi is fast approaching, with just 12 days remaining. Preparations for the festival are in full swing, setting a joyous and celebration mood everywhere. The Ganapathi idol makers around the Canacona taluka from Khola to Polem are busy in preparing the idols.
If you pay a visit to various idol-making Chitrashalas at some of the places in the Canacona taluka at Char-Rasta, Khola, Loliem and Polem, you can witness how the idol makers are giving final touches to the Ganesha idols in their own style and stance.
“The Chitrashallas (artisans working at idol workshops) have almost completed eighty per cent of this work. What remains is the job of painting the idols,” says Prasana Pagui, one of the artisans who makes these idols and a teacher by profession.
Ganesh Chaturthi is a major festival of the Hindus. This is the birthday of Lord Ganesha. It falls on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada and this year it falls on September 5, 2016. The festival is observed throughout India.
Manoj Chari, Rupesh Chari and Rajesh Chari are called the ‘Three Chari young brothers’ from Char-Rasta. They are famous for making idols in Canacona. Word of their work has spread to North Karnataka and their services are sought in making huge Sarvajanik Ganesha idols and other decorations.
In the Canacona taluka alone, there are around 20 Sarvajanik Ganeshotsava Mandals. A Sarvajanik Ganeshotsava mandals is a community celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi. In these mandals, a huge idol of Lord Ganesh is installed.
Artisans in Char-Rasta, Agonda, Poinguinim, Polem and Loliem, etc, are faced with a dilemma of pricing. With escalating prices of paint and clay, rising cost of labours, these artisans are left with no option but to raise the prices of the idols.
