Clay not being easily available, dwindling number of artisans making idols, rising costs of paints have driven up the prices of Gauri-Ganesha idols this year. While the prices have only seen a small jump in wholesale shops, a significant jump has been recorded in the retail market.
Compared to last year, while the unpainted clay idols saw a minimum jump of ₹100 per idol, the painted ones saw a significant hike of ₹200 to ₹400 per idol based on its design. In comparison, spray-painted idols cost less than the hand-painted Ganesha idols.
While many complained about the rising costs, there were others who said despite it being a pinch in the pocket, they wanted to celebrate the festival grandly. Vamsi Krishna, a buyer, remarked, “Though costs are higher, I prefer to buy the hand-painted colored Ganesha because of its appeal. After all, the festival comes only once a year.”
Another buyer Suresh said that he usually buys a half-foot Ganesha idol every year and the price would usually be between ₹100 to ₹150, but this year it costed him ₹250.
Kiran, a retail shop owner selling idols in Hoodi, said that the cost of hand-painted clay idols was increasing due to the lack of people working on it, with almost a surge of ₹200- ₹400 rupees per idol depending on the designs, this year. Janaki, who has been selling idols for 30 years now, said that the cost of the paint today was a lot more expensive, driving up the prices. “Relatively, we also earn a better margin selling unpainted idols,” she said.
Despite a ban on them, several shops are found to be stocking up Plaster of paris (PoP) idols, which are costlier. Even an idol of half a foot height costs over ₹1,000 in the retail market and the price of a two-feet tall idol can go up to ₹7,000. “We stock it because there is demand. Some people who fancy these idols only want them and they are not willing to buy our clay idols,” said Ramachandra, a retail seller in Sahakar Nagar.
Published – August 25, 2025 09:59 pm IST
