Pune: With Ganeshotsav just around the corner, several studios and community spaces across Pune have begun to host workshops to make eco-friendly Ganapati idols with shadu mati, or natural clay. These sessions not only teach participants the traditional art of sculpting, but also encourage a shift towards sustainable celebrations, steering away from Plaster of Paris idols. “We enrolled in a plantable Ganesha idol-making workshop. The clay used contains seeds that will sprout after visarjan,” said Nandu Shetty, a resident of Kondhwa. Vimannagar’s Prajakta Shelke said, “My children are attending one idol-making workshop this weekend. It will not only give them good hands-on experience in sculpting but also give them a sense of pride to worship the idol they make.”The process of making a shadu mati idol begins with kneading the natural clay to the right consistency, ensuring it is soft yet firm for sculpting. “Participants will be taught to create a 7-8 inch hand-moulded Ganesha idol from natural clay. Tools will be provided to create the basic structure and then finer features. The clay already contains seeds of tulsi and sunflower, which will sprout after the visarjan,” said Gopal Prajapat, founder of Mitiwaala.After smoothing out the surface and carving the finer features, the shadu mati idol would be left to air-dry naturally. Finally, natural colours or eco-friendly paints are applied to give the idol a finishing touch. “There is a specific technique to make a shadu mati idol. The clay is sticky, so it is difficult to keep it intact without cracks. We teach participants how to correct the damage, if any, and create a beautiful, sturdy idol,” said Sayali Gambhir, who conducts many such workshops in the city.Rupa Rahul Bajaj Center for Environment and Art, in collaboration with Punaravartan, has a workshop on Ganesha idol-making that uses clay collected from last year’s immersions to create new idols. “We host many environmental awareness workshops, and for this one, participants will be reusing clay from last year’s drive and making fresh idols. We are getting good responses for participation,” said Manashree Bapat, project and communication coordinator, Rupa Rahul Bajaj Center for Environment and Art. Idol makers said that if the shadu mati is collected and sundried after visarjan, it can be reused to make idols for the next year.
