Ponda: Marcel’s long tradition of creating eco-friendly Ganesh idols is declining due to the rising cost of skilled labour and raw materials. While several mandals once showcased creative idols, only two had their idols on display this year.Former arts and culture minister Govind Gaude assured the mandals that he would seek govt patronage to ensure the tradition continues.Sai Kala Mandal at Tariwada, which introduced the tradition 25 years ago, continues to create and display eco-friendly idols. About two decades ago, six idols were displayed along a 2km stretch of Marcel.This year, the mandal used about 30kg of corn to create a 12-foot-high Ganesh idol, sculptors Namdev Tari and Samir Tari said. It will remain open for public viewing until Oct 4. Last year, the mandal created replicas of all 24 Ganesh idols it had made over the previous 24 years.Namdev Tari said he drew inspiration from life-size idols popular in Belagavi and parts of Maharashtra, including Kolhapur.“Most of those idols (in Karnataka and Maharashtra) are made of plaster of Paris (PoP). I thought why not change things a bit and make such idols out of materials that will not harm the environment? Eventually, we made a Ganesh idol using coconuts in 2001. That was the beginning,” he said.The concept was later adopted by groups across Goa. Mallinath Sports and Kala Mandal in Marcel followed in 2003, while Vithoba Sanskurtik Mandal of Bazarwada adopted it in 2004. However, both mandals have discontinued creating such idols for the past nine years.Over the years, Tari has used materials including betel nuts, spices, flowers, shendur, durva grass, tiles, wood, broken bangles, sago, local rice varieties, wool, wheat and sooji to create the idols.Artist Kirtikumar Prabhu said rising expenses had made the practice difficult to sustain. “One needs huge amounts (of money and material) to make such creative idols. It is just not viable now.”Gaude said the tradition had brought recognition to Marcel, which falls in his Priol constituency. He said creating an idol required at least three months and cost between Rs 3.5 lakh and Rs 5 lakh, and vowed to secure govt support for the creators.
