MARGAO: A seasoned artist from Sirvoi-Quepem, Ulhas Shetkar has been crafting Ganesh idols for over 20 years now, a skill he learned from his father. Shetkar, like many others from his generation of craftsmen, uses pure clay, infusing his creations with a sense of humility and reverence.
“Our Ganesha idols are made with great care and devotion. It is not the profits that drive us to work long hours, but we see this as a divine responsibility,” says Ulhas Shetkar, who has been crafting Ganesh idols for over 20 years.
“The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi also provides a canvas for us artisans to showcase our creativity through these idols,” he adds. Shetkar alone has sculpted over 100 Ganesh idols for this season.
In Margao and its neighbouring villages, around 15 chitrashalas (workshops) produce thousands of Lord Ganesh idols every year,
ranging from tiny to large, elaborate ones for the community mandals.
Ulhas Shetkar sheds light on the arduous process of preparing Ganesh idols, which begins with sourcing the clay, nearly three months before the festival. “We need to plan and arrange for the clay, which is dug out of the fields nearby. The clay has to be brought in before the monsoon begins, and the fields are inundated. The clay is cleaned, dried and kneaded for some time before it is ready for use for idol making,” explains Shetkar. “Customers with special orders, or who visualise their Ganesh in a particular theme or pose, come to us much in advance, so we have the time to cater to their requests,” he adds.
Shetkar’s entire family, comprising his wife, children, and brother, all pitch in to help him create these idols, carrying on a tradition that has been followed by their ancestors for generations.