Chennai: Various clay images of Lord Ganesh made their presence felt in the market on the eve of Vinayaka Chathurthi, which coincides with Teachers’ Day this year. Towards Sunday evening, make-shift mandapas or pandals were springing up at several places in the city to install giant-sized colourful Pillayars.
Cartloads of clay images of the Lord arrived in the suburbs too and many temples dedicated to Lord Ganesh got a fresh coat of paint and decorations to celebrate the Ganesh Chathurthi with pomp, vigour and splendour on Monday.
“Like in several parts of north India, Tamil Nadu, particularly Chennai, has been witnessing an increasing participation by the people and several organisations. It was our leader Ramagopalan who had set the trend of celebrating the occasion in a grand manner,” says a senior leader of the Hindu Munnani.
What started as a small event became a big and memorable festival throughout the State, he added. His organisation, the Hindu Munnani has planned to install over 5,000 idols of Lord Ganesh for the celebration and immersion in the city.
As in the previous years, the organisers have decided to install eco-friendly Ganesh idols. As a large number of women and children too participate in the immersion festival, the Chathurthi is observed in a grand manner.
“This is among the numerous festivals that ensure livelihood opportunities to the talented persons who produce the idols, temporary sellers and even the poor who sell grass, flowers and colourful umbrellas,” says Subramanian a priest.
The children take a special interest in accompanying their parents in buying the idols as the “elephant-headed” god always fascinates them, he adds.
Happy Pillayar idol sellers gear up for fest
As the city prepares to celebrate Ganesha Chaturthi, the sellers of clay idols of the elephant-faced God are rejoicing.
Aiyanar, who sources his idols from Tirupati and sells in Purasawalkam, is a happy man. His idols made of cardboard and treated with chemicals have managed to sell 80 to 90 pieces in the last week.
“We have sold most of our stock and barely 10 pieces are remaining. I am sure it will get sold by tonight,” Aiyanar, who has been selling Ganesha idols for the past 15 years, told Deccan Chronicle.
Karthik, a wholesale dealer of Ganesha idols, had stocked up 150 idols for the past week. “Thirty huge idols and 120 small idols were up for sale this week. Almost everything has been sold except 12 huge idols. Many religious groups bought the bigger idols while the smaller ones were taken by people celebrating among families,” Karthik said.
Sathish K, a corporate employee, said that he prefers buying clay idols, as they don't cause much harm to the environment once immersed in the water tanks.
A seller of clay idols, S Pichandi, said that he saw a good response from buyers this year too.
“Though there were showers in the night for the past few days, it didn't have any impact on the sales. I had 400 pieces this morning and by afternoon, 50 were sold. Many people will be coming to buy tomorrow as well, so it won't be difficult to sell everything off,” said, Pichandi, who deals with wholesale of idols in Mylapore.
