CANACONA: The availability of quality raw materials locally and experienced artisans have led to high demand for the Ganesha idols made in Canacona.

With the Ganesh Chathurti festival fast approaching, all the artisans based at different places in Canacona taluka are seen working round the clock to meet the ever increasing demand for their idols during Ganesha festival.

Canacona has not less than 40 ‘chitrashalas’ or workshops which commence the preparation to mould Ganesha idols in the beginning of June.

Manoj Prabhugaonkar, an idol maker, said that he learnt the art of sculpting Ganesha idols from his father and wants to pass on the knowledge to his son who is showing a keen interest in idol making.

When this correspondent visited Prabhugaonkar’s workshop at Mashem, there were more than 200 idols of different shapes and sizes kept on shelves for drying.

“After sufficient drying, at the last stage we paint the idols,” said Prabhugaonkar.

This year the festival commences on September 12 and concludes with the immersion of idols in the water bodies located in different parts of the taluka.

The workshops in the taluka provide seasonal employment to hundreds of workers who are either from Canacona or from neighbouring Karwar taluka.

Due to scarcity and high cost of labour, some of the artisans prefer help from other family members which also increases the profitability of the trade, they say.

Goa government through Goa State Handicrafts Department reimburses Rs 100 per idol as subsidy to the artisans which comes with a ceiling of maximum 250 idols in a year for each work shop.