Worshipping clay Ganesh idols is a tradition during Ganesh Chaturthi festival. But many now worship colorful POP idols which pollute water and cause environmental damage. With a series of campaigns taken up by Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, civic bodies, many are considering installing clay idols. Artisan working on making an idol of elephant headed Hindu god Ganesha at Kosapet in Chennai on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM
As Chennai gears up for Vinayaka Chathurthi, with pandals being set up across the city, idol makers working with clay are facing several challenges. In areas like Kosapet, Purasawalkam, known for its long tradition of idol-making, artisans are struggling with both rising costs and sourcing materials.
Clay, the traditional and eco-friendly material used for decades to make Vinayaka idols, has become increasingly difficult to source. “It’s hard to get clay from around Chennai,” says Shanthi Mohan, a third-generation idol maker from Kosapet.
With local sources drying up or becoming inaccessible, many artisans now rely on clay transported from districts like Villupuram, Cuddalore, and even as far as Rajapalayam, which pushes up both time and transport costs.
“We have to bring it from other districts, and for just 8 to 10 mounds, it costs us around ₹8,000. That’s a lot.” She adds that the recent good rainfall has filled lakes, making it harder to collect clay from the lakebeds.
In recent years, there has been a growing awareness about using sustainable and environmentally friendly idols. Clay idols, unlike those made from plaster of Paris (PoP), dissolve easilyand do not pollute water bodies. Idol makers in Kosapet have switched to paper pulp moulds to support this eco-friendly approach. “We avoid PoP here. If we use plaster, we’ll get into trouble,” says Ravi, another artisan.
Despite these efforts, PoP idols are still commonly used in certain parts of the city — especially for larger idols displayed in public pandals. These often come coated in synthetic paints, which add to the pollution when immersed in water. Idol maker R. Venkatesan, who has been in the business for over 30 years, says that while he continues to work with clay, profits have shrunk. “We bring clay from as far as Rajapalayam. I manage to make a small profit, but the main issue is the off-season—there’s no steady demand, and costs pile up.
The artisans are also considering leaving the profession. “We’ll close down after this generation. My daughter won’t be continuing this work. It’s simply not possible [to continue] anymore,” says Ms. Mohan.
Published – August 26, 2025 11:57 pm IST
