For four decades, Sanguem-based artisan Gurunath Govekar has kept a cherished family tradition alive—handcrafting eco-friendly clay Ganpati idols ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi.
What began as a traditional craft passed down through generations has now become a 40-year journey for Govekar. This year, around 250 clay Ganpati idols have been prepared at his workshop and are currently receiving their final finishing touches ahead of the festival.
For Govekar and other traditional artisans, the craft is about more than making idols—it is about preserving a cultural tradition and passing it on to the next generation.
However, rising production costs are making the work increasingly challenging. Govekar and other artisans have appealed to the government to increase the subsidy for Ganpati idol makers, saying greater financial support would help sustain the traditional craft and encourage artisans to continue making eco-friendly idols.