Canacona: The availability of quality local raw materials and skilled artisans has created strong demand for Canacona’s Ganesha idols. The taluka has over 40 small and large chitrashalas (workshops), where idol-making begins in early June.With Ganesh Chaturthi commencing on Sept 14, artisans in Canacona taluka are working round the clock to meet the demand. Govt’s handicrafts department reimburses Rs 200 per idol as a subsidy for artisans.These workshops provide seasonal employment to hundreds of workers from Canacona and Karwar. Due to scarcity and high labour costs, some artisans prefer help from other family members, which also increases the trade’s profitability.Some of the active workshops in Canacona taluka include Char-rasta, Mashem, Poinguinim, Khola, Loliem, Gaondongrim, Cotigao and Polem.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 interested in idol making.At Prabhugaonkar’s Chitrashala at Mashem, more than 200 idols of different shapes and sizes are kept on shelves to dry. “After sufficient drying, at the last stage we paint the idols,” said Prabhugaonkar.Umakant Pagi, who helps his father in this trade, said that although chitrashalas are meant for profit, they preserve the sculpting traditions for future generations. Pagi said that despite the ban, Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols are brought from Maharashtra. He said that PoP idols affect the environment, and real devotees should not use them.Local craftsmen like Manoj Prabhu Gaonkar in Mashem and Chari brothers at Char-rasta, well-known for keeping the sculpting and painting tradition alive, also said clay idols should be preferred.At this stage, the work focuses primarily on the final paint coats, detailed facial features, and drying moulded idols, they said.
