Artisans facing uncertain future due to mass production of ‘gods’

Agencies
September 9, 2018

Mysuru, Sept 9: Traditional idol makers of city are dwindling fast with rapid commercialisation of the festival and the entry of plaster of Paris (POP) and paper pulp Ganesha idols from other states.

With Ganesha Chaturthi to be celebrated on September 13 the artisans are worried as general public were losing faith and beauty of plain clay Gowri and Ganesha idols that are produced in the state in the unique Karnataka style.

There is not much time left for the extinction of both our style of idols and the artistes who have the knowledge to make them. It is imminent that the artistes turn to other professions soon, after all, the artistes too have to make a living, a senior Ganesha idol maker said here on Sunday.

“There were nearly 80 to 90 artisan families in Kumbarageri area of the city till two decades ago,” according to Revanna, an artiste specialising in clay models with more than 25 years of experience in the field. Today, one may hardly find about 10 to 15 families engaged in making Ganesh idols, he added.

Besides, the advent of POP idols which are rich in colour and light-weight, have made it difficult for the clay artisans.

“Though the government claims to have banned the POP idols and even made a show of their raids, it is only for publicity and the idols continue to be sold,” said Mr Revanna.

Kumbarageri has also seen a migration of artisan families in search of greener pastures and some of them have resettled in other parts of the city.

The Kumbarageri area itself has become highly commercialised with dense growth and does not permit the traditional way of functioning on roadsides by dumping huge quantities of clay. Hence some families have migrated to Koorgalli, Hebbal and surrounding areas where they continue to make Ganesh idols.

It takes the artisans anywhere between four to six months to prepare and make the idols. But with assembly line production of idols that flood the market, the idols that are locally made tend to be swamped out in the competition, said Mr. Revanna.

Comments

please read in your veda book..dont be foool...most hindus dont know what they religious book says simply depend on poojari...if he say to eat shit they are ready

Mashooq
 - 
Sunday, 9 Sep 2018

Na Tasya Pratima Asti. Dont worship creation. Worship creator.

Joseph
 - 
Sunday, 9 Sep 2018

Ganesha can be exported

Mohan
 - 
Sunday, 9 Sep 2018

Its should be tradition art of karnataka, stop mass production company intervene

Kumar
 - 
Sunday, 9 Sep 2018

Why govt cant take it as part of tourism and govt body with under govt monitoring. It's unique thing of Karnataka.

Ibrahim
 - 
Sunday, 9 Sep 2018

Govt should provide support to artisans. Should have tie up with Karnataka tourism. It should not be limited as seasons

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
February 9,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 9: Senior JD(S) leader and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda has called upon all the regional parties and secular parties to join hands with the Congress and work in tandem to take on the BJP.

Noting that mere speeches would not help, he said the regional and secular parties should enhance their strength politically in the country.

"We all need to join together with Congress and work in tandem with the available strength only then will we be able to stop them (the BJP)," the JD(S) supremo said at a public meeting organised by the party in Hassan district on Saturday.

Gowda cautioned the regional and secular parties against sitting idle watching the developments in the country.

"If the small and regional parties do not exercise the powers given by Dr B R Ambedkar to the country, they (BJP) are going to the extent of finishing them up," he said. Interestingly, the JD(S) patriarch, had in the run-up to the December bypolls to Karnataka assembly said he would not align with the Congress and dubbed it as "not trustworthy."

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
June 5,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 5: An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 on the Richter Scale jolted Karnataka on Friday morning while another with a magnitude of 4.7 was felt in Jharkhand.

The tremors were felt in Hampi (Karnataka) and Jamshedpur (Jharkhand), according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS).

According to NCS, the aftershocks were felt at 6:55 am in both the places today.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
March 8,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 8: Lieutenant General Milind Hemant Thakur, Director-General of Supply and Transport Corps of the Indian Army, unveiled the renovated Animal Memorial at Agram Grounds in ASC Centre and College here on Saturday.

The animal memorial signifies the contributions of mules and horses of the Indian Army. These animals belonging to the Army Service Corps, who have rendered their services relentlessly during the war in the Himalayas, often paying the highest price of sacrificing their lives in the line of duty have been chronicled in the Memorial.

To ensure that these hoof prints do not get obliterated, on approval by the Government of India, their saga was brought to life in the form of a sculptured monument in the Equestrian Training Area of the ASC Centre and College.

This animal transport memorial has now been extended by constructing two walls supported by Roman pillars on either side.

These walls highlight the role played by the animals in the Indian Army since the British Raj. It gives details of 637 gallantry awards won by the brave muleteers, 49 battle casualties since independence, 14 gallantry awards to mules since independence and 05 military recognitions bestowed by the Chief of the Army Staff and other Army Commanders on AT units, who have been relied upon heavily to fill an important niche in the logistics networks of the Indian Army.

Gen Thakur also declared that 26 September each year has been nominated as the AT Remembrance Day as it was on this day in 1914, that 9th mule Corps, as part of the Indian Expeditionary Force, landed at Marseilles in France, to a most hearty and enthusiastic welcome by the French to support the British and allied armies in World War One.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.