- Floods have devastated the Ganesh idol-making industry in Raigad, India, just weeks before Ganesh Chaturthi, destroying six months of work for sculptors like Dilip Mhatre.
- Mhatre had completed about 500 clay idols worth around 800,000 rupees (approximately $8,300), which were to be delivered across Maharashtra.
- Around a million Ganesh idols were damaged by heavy rains across Raigad, affecting approximately 3,000 idol-making workshops.
- The floods have caused an estimated loss of 1.2 million rupees for Mhatre, who is now unable to fulfill customer orders.
- Local authorities are assessing the damage, and financial assistance will be provided under government rules once assessments are completed.
- Raigad is home to 20,000 workshops that produce up to eight million idols each year, providing seasonal employment to around 150,000 people.
- The floods have not only damaged finished idols but also moulds and raw materials, making it impossible for many artisans to restart their work.
- Sculptors are now facing delays in fulfilling international orders due to the floods, which may force them to rely on sculptors outside Raigad.
Devastating floods in Maharashtra have wreaked havoc on the Ganesh idol-making industry, damaging around a million idols and affecting 3,000 workshops.12
The floods, which brought over 548mm of rain in just three days, have left sculptors like Dilip Mhatre in despair, as he lost 500 idols worth ₹800,000.
“We have no idols, no moulds and no raw material,” he lamented, highlighting the dire situation as Ganesh Chaturthi approaches.
The industry, which generates ₹3.5 billion annually and employs 150,000 people, is the economic backbone of many families in the region.910
Anita Patil, another workshop owner, expressed frustration over inadequate insurance payouts, stating, “If the actual loss is 1m rupees, the insurance payout may be only around 10,000 rupees.”
With many artisans losing not just finished idols but also essential materials, recovery could take months or even years.
“People were disappointed but we simply had no alternative,” Mhatre said, as he plans to take loans to refund advance payments to customers.
The impact extends beyond local markets, with international orders also at risk of delays due to the floods.12
As the festival nears, sculptors are working tirelessly to salvage what they can, but few expect to recover financially anytime soon.
“We may have to rely on sculptors outside Raigad to fulfil them,” warned Mahendra Patil, emphasizing the challenges ahead.
Despite the setbacks, many artisans refuse to abandon their craft, which has sustained their families for generations.
“Around a million clay idols were damaged across Raigad district, and 3,000 workshops were affected by heavy rains that dumped 548mm in three days. Sculptor Dilip Mhatre lost six months of work worth 800,000 rupees and now cannot fulfil orders for the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival, forcing him to take a loan and refund advance payments.”
AOL.com
