Ganesh Chaturthi: The Art & Evolution of Ganesh Murti Making

“Vakra Tunda Mahakaaya Koti Surya Samaprabha

Nirvignam Kurume Deva Sarva Kaaryeshu Sarvataa”

Meaning: I worship the Lord with a curved trunk and huge body with the effulgence of a core suns. Let him remove the obstacles to all my deeds and lead them to fulfillment.

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the liveliest and vibrant festivals of India, celebrating the birth of the elephant headed god with 108 names. Known for his playfulness as well as a symbol for all auspicious beginnings and the remover of obstacles (vighnaharta), Lord Ganesha is one of the most revered figures in Hindu mythology. This festival is celebrated on the fourth day of Bhadrapada.

The rituals for this festival last for ten days, with the preparations for the making of the idol starting as early as a few months before. Celebrated with pomp and enthusiasm throughout India, it holds particular significance and grandeur in the western regions of Maharashtra and Goa. Amongst the elaborate festivities full of flowers, sweets, music and dance, the Ganesha murti is the most important and indispensable part of the festivities.

The legend behind the making of clay idols of Ganesha goes back to ancient Hindu mythology, right to the story of the birth of Ganesha. As the story goes, Goddess Parvati once wanted to have a son who would guard the house while she had her bath. So she sculpted a son from sandalwood paste and imbued him with life. While she was having a bath, Lord Shiva tried to enter the house. Ganesha, not recognising him, refused to let him enter. Furious, Shiva cut off his head. When he realised he had killed his own son, and couldn’t find a human head to replace the cut off head, he placed an elephant’s head on Ganesha’s body, bringing him back to life. Thus, the tradition of sculpting Ganesha murtis comes from Parvati’s act of sculpting him from the sandalwood paste, but with an elephant head instead.

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi became a community festival due to the efforts of Lokmanya Tilak during the British regime, as a means to gather the people together under the pretext of religious ceremonies. Even today, one can see these celebrations at the heart of Maharashtra and Goa, especially in places like Mumbai and Pune. In the weeks and months before Ganesh Chaturthi, one can see rows of unpainted idols left for drying in the sun outside every

kaarkhana. The kaarkhanas are small makeshift workshops and function in more or less similar ways. Each kaarkhana specialises in making either clay or Plaster of Paris idols, or both.

The traditional material used for making the idol was shadu maati, a local variety of river clay, making the murtis eco-friendly. Gradually, the trend for larger and varied types of murtis developed, causing a shift to POP (Plaster of Paris) as the major material used. because it offered several practical and commercial advantages for artisans and sellers. POP is cheaper than high-quality shadu clay, especially when bought in bulk. POP idols could be produced at a lower cost but sold at similar or higher prices, increasing artisans’ profit margins. Being lighter in weight, it was also easier to transport the murtis, especially the larger ones. POP sets and hardens quickly, allowing artisans to make more idols in less time and absorbs paint more evenly. On the other hand, shadu clay requires days for proper drying, which slows production, and is more prone to damage during transportation. While POP gives artisans economic and practical benefits, it does not dissolve easily in water and contains chemicals harmful to aquatic life. This led to severe river and coastal pollution, prompting the recent shift back to eco-friendly shadu maati and other biodegradable materials.

Following are the steps for clay Ganesh idol making:

In the first step, the sculptor creates the original image of Ganesha from which the POP mould is created. Beads are often used to add uniformity and precision.

The second step is preparing and kneading the clay to ensure it is hard or soft enough to be able to mold it.

The third step is dusting the mold with a powder sack called 'shankagiri’ and then the clay is pressed onto it.

The idol is then pulled out from the cast. It is very raw and goes through a series of steps till it is perfected.

The artisan then joins these bodies and limbs together with a solution of water & clay. Using wooden tools, he would carefully remove any excess clay, smooth out the cracks and add in the intricate details.

The clay idols take over 2-3 days to dry completely and are left out in the sun to speed the process. After drying, the idols are polished with a sanding paper and perfected till they are smooth to the touch.

The painting begins with the application of a base paint for the body. The artisans refer to it as 'safeda'. This is ideally done with the use of paint spray and is the only involvement of machinery in the whole process.

Next, shading is done with a powdered orange paint using a brush, to give dimension to the idol.

Then comes the painting. The clothes are first painted in bright colours, followed by the skin and detailing of ornaments, etc. Finally, the eyes are painted with utmost precision.

After this, it is transported to homes and community spaces where the idol is worshipped for 1.5, 3, 5, 7 or 10 days, and is then immersed in water.

These traditional techniques are passed down through generations, with artisan families preserving the craft.

Using these techniques of Ganesh Murti making, one can also make their small eco-friendly DIY Ganesha idol at home!

The Shreemant Dagduseth Halwai Ganpati of Pune is one of the most revered and celebrated Ganesh idols in India, drawing lakhs of devotees every year during Ganesh Chaturthi. Its origin dates back to the late 19th century, when a wealthy sweet-maker, Dagduseth Halwai, lost his only son to a plague epidemic. To overcome his grief, and on the advice of his spiritual guru, he commissioned the building of a grand Ganpati idol and temple in 1893. Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who popularised Ganesh Chaturthi as a public festival, was a close friend of Dagduseth Halwai and actively supported the installation, helping it become a focal point for community celebration and national unity.

The murti of Dagduseth Ganapati is renowned for its majestic scale, impeccable artistry, and lavish decoration. Standing approximately 7.5 feet tall, the idol is crafted with exquisite facial features, gentle yet commanding eyes, and perfectly balanced proportions that exude divine grace, adorned with gold. The sculpting process requires meticulous skill, from designing the serene yet powerful visage to ensuring the idol’s proportions harmonise with the grandeur of its ornamentation and temple backdrop.

The artistry of Dagduseth Ganapati murti making has transcended local boundaries, influencing idol design trends across India. Artisans often take inspiration from the idol’s dignified posture, symmetrical detailing and regal embellishments when creating murtis for other cities. Even smaller, home-based Ganpati idols borrow elements such as the serene facial style, crown design, or ornament patterns seen in the Dagduseth Ganapati.

For the Dagduseth Ganapati murti making, the process begins months before Ganesh Chaturthi. Skilled artisans, often from families who have served the temple for generations, work in a dedicated workshop near the temple premises. The base framework is first constructed using light yet sturdy materials to support the idol’s height and ornaments without compromising stability. A special mix of shadu mati is then applied in layers, each carefully shaped to form the idol’s graceful contours. The face, especially the eyes and trunk, is sculpted with painstaking precision, as devotees believe the idol’s gaze should radiate karuna (compassion) and ashirvada (blessings). Once the clay work is complete and dried, artisans apply a smooth finishing coat to achieve the flawless surface that Dagduseth Ganapati is known for. Natural and synthetic paints are layered to create a warm tone for the idol’s skin. The final step is the fitting of ornaments, real gold jewellery and intricate crowns.

While the basic form of the idol remains consistent each year, subtle refinements are made to details like the crown’s ornamentation or the backdrop design, ensuring freshness while preserving tradition. The entire process is as much a devotional act as it is a feat of craftsmanship, every artisan begins work with prayers, seeing themselves not just as sculptors, but as humble servants bringing Lord Ganesha’s presence to life.

In recent years, eco-friendly Ganpati idols have moved from being a niche idea to a major movement across India. Growing awareness of environmental damage caused by POP idols has inspired both devotees and artisans to seek greener alternatives. Shadu maati idols dissolve harmlessly in water, leaving no toxic residue and align more closely with the festival’s message of balance between devotion and nature.

Environmental consciousness is no longer just an urban trend, it’s a necessity. POP idols, painted with synthetic colors, can take months to disintegrate in water, releasing harmful chemicals and heavy metals. In contrast, eco-friendly idols made from clay, paper mache or other biodegradable materials dissolve quickly, allowing visarjan water to be reused for plants or safely returned to natural water bodies. Many city councils now actively promote or mandate the use of sustainable idols, ensuring that the joy of Ganesh Chaturthi does not come at the planet’s expense.

Modern artisans and devotees have adopted a variety of innovative ideas while staying true to tradition. Plantable Ganpati idols are embedded with seeds that can be planted after immersion, growing into trees or flowering plants. Idols are sculpted from edible chocolate and immersed in warm milk, which is then distributed as prasad. Paper Mache Ganpati idols are made from recycled paper pulp, making them lightweight, affordable and quick to dissolve in water. Turmeric and clay idols are also made, combining auspicious natural ingredients for symbolic and eco-friendly worship.

Across India, several artisan hubs are opting for eco-friendly Ganpati making. In Pen, Maharashtra, one of the largest idol-making centres, many workshops now produce pure shadu maati idols painted with natural dyes. In Bengaluru, community led workshops teach families how to make their own biodegradable idols at home, fostering both sustainability and personal connection to the festival. In Pune, initiatives like tree Ganesha create plantable idols, merging art, faith and environmental care. These examples prove that tradition and sustainability can go hand in hand, inspiring a new generation of celebrations that honour both Lord Ganesha and the earth.

Whatever be the medium and style, despite the many variations and creative versions of Ganesha murtis that we get to see today, there are certain attributes that are central to the traditional iconography of Ganesha. Here are a few such attributes and what they symbolise.

The large ears and pot belly of Ganesha show his ability to listen to the problems of all his devotees and absorb them, thus being known as vighnaharta or the remover or obstacles.

The most common depictions of Ganesh, known as Vastu Ganesh, have a left-facing trunk, with the left side of the body representing feminine energy. This icon is believed to represent the calming aspect of Ganesh and is preferred for placement in homes to invoke relaxation and peace.

The idol of Ganesha in Kadam Wood Carving by Om Prakash

When Ganesh’s truck faces the right, the masculine side of the body, the form is known as the Dakshinabhimukhi or the Siddhi-Vinayak. In this form, Ganesh’s energy is hostile and powerful. Worshipping Ganesh with his trunk facing right is believed to yield quicker results, with a stricter set of religious rituals to be followed to appease his aggressive force.

He is also known as Eka Danta, or one with a single tusk. As the legend goes, Ved Vyasa, the composer of the Mahabharata requested Ganesha to write down the Mahabharata for him, and Ganesha agreed, putting forth a condition that the narration shouldn’t stop until he was done writing. When his quill began to wear away during Ved Vyasa’s narration, Ganesha broke off his tusk and used it to write the Mahabharata.

Ganesha is shown with 2,4, 6, 8, 10 or 16 arms. He is often portrayed with conch shells, an axe, a rope or noose and sometimes a trident. One hand is in the abhaya mudra, the hand gesture signifying protection. In one hand he holds a modak, his favourite sweet. In most depictions, one leg is placed on the ground, while the other is folded up, emphasizing the importance of balance between the materialistic and the spiritual. He is always accompanied by his vahana, mushaka, sitting by his feet.

Ganesh Chaturthi is more than just a festival, it is a blend of faith, artistry, tradition and evolving values. From the timeless beauty of shadu maati idols, lovingly sculpted by generations of artisans, to the grandeur of Dagduseth Ganapati that inspires devotion across India, each murti carries within it a piece of history and cultural pride. The art of murti-making reflects not only the skill of the sculptor but also the devotion that breathes life into clay, colors and ornaments.

As awareness grows about the environmental impact of celebrations, the shift toward eco-friendly Ganesha murtis marks a return to harmony between devotion and nature. Whether through plantable idols, chocolate immersions, or community-led clay workshops, devotees are embracing ways to celebrate without harming the very earth that sustains us.

At the end, the true essence of Ganesh Chaturthi lies not in the size or grandeur of the idol, but in the sincerity of the devotion, the joy of community and the blessings of the deity. By blending tradition with responsibility, we ensure that the spirit of Lord Ganesha continues to inspire generations, removing obstacles not only from our lives but also from the path toward a more sustainable world.

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