Nagpur: More than a month before Ganesh Chaturthi, Bappa’s idols are taking shape in narrow lanes of Chitar Oli. From towering idols for mandals to smaller clay idols for installation at homes, workshops across Nagpur’s centuries-old artisan quarter are buzzing with activity.When TOI spoke to sculptors and workers to understand the trend and preparations, they said idol prices are likely to increase by up to 20% due to a jump in the cost of clay, tin, decorative material and labour.Believed to have been established over 300 years ago during the reign of Raghuji Raje Bhonsle, Chitar Oli derives its name from Chitare, a Marathi term associated with artists engaged in painting and sculpting. The locality has remained a hub of idol-making, where generations of families continue to shape Bappa by hand.“Every year, prices go up because cost of raw materials, labour and other inputs increases. There is no fixed formula, every artisan decides prices based on individual costs but on average, rates have gone up by around 15-20%, while in some cases increase is as high as 30%,” said Kedar Ingle, a fourth-generation idol maker in Chitar Oli.Until last year, Ingle balanced idol-making with a private IT job, but has now devoted himself full-time to the family profession. Like many traditional artisans, his family continues to craft idols exclusively from natural clay.As per another artisan, Sushil Chaurasia, a 1 to 1.5ft clay idol that sold for around 2,000 last year is now priced close to 2,500, while larger idols that earlier cost around 12,000 are now being sold for 14,000-15,000. “Increase is unavoidable because every stage of production has become expensive,” he said.Massive Ganesh idols are beginning to now take shape, while intricate detailing is over for a few smaller ones. Artisans are focused on sculpting, smoothing surfaces and preparing decorative elements. “Painting will begin in coming weeks, then the workshops will get even busier,” said Sachin Gaikwad, another sculptor engaged in idol-making for over 4 generations.
