Idols for Festivals: Century-Old Craft Struggles for Survival in Gadilanka Village

Kakinada:The Gadilanka village in I Polavaram mandal of BR Ambedkar Konaseema District, once known for its thriving tradition of making clay-idols of Lord Vinayaka, is witnessing a steady decline in the number of families pursuing the century-old craft.

From a scenario of nearly 70 to 80 families engaging in idol-making in the past, fewer than 10 families are taking up the work during Ganesh Chaturthi festival season now. The village is renowned for producing idols made of clay, plaster of Paris and cement, with clay idols traditionally being a specialty.

Artisans collect and store soil from the agriculture fields during summer and use it during the festival season to make idols for Ganesh Chaturdhi celebrations. The craftsmen also use high-quality lime sources from Punyakshetram village in Rajanagaram mandal and waste papers, which are processed into pulp and mixed with other materials to give the idols strength and shape.

Idols ranging from small sizes to those as tall as 10 feet are made in the village and supplied to customers and organisers of Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations. However, artisans say the rising costs of raw materials and inadequate returns have made the profession increasingly difficult to sustain.

An artisan, Mahadasa Satya Ganeswara Rao said that the prices of raw materials had increased considerably, while the selling price of idols had not risen proportionately. At present, the 5 feet Ganesh Idol is being sold at Rs 13,000 to Rs 14,000.

He said that the younger generation is showing little interest in continuing with the traditional occupation. As children from artisan families pursue higher education or take up other business and seek formal employment, fewer among them are willing to learn the skills passed down through generations by their forefathers.

A young artisan, M Srinivasa Rao, recalled travelling to towns such as Karimnagar, Nizamabad etc to supply idols on orders. Despite putting in considerable effort, the returns were not sufficient to justify the efforts. He eventually left the profession and took up a different job in Chennai.

The decline in the number of artisans has raised concern over the survival of a craft that has been part of Gadilanka’s cultural identity for nearly a century.

Yet, there is a glimmer of hope. A youngster, Sarweswara Rao, said that awareness about the importance of clay idols was gradually increasing. The growing preference for eco-friendly idols, he observed, would provide a fresh opportunity for traditional craftsmen and help revive the village’s declining craft.