Chennai: The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi holds a great religious and cultural significance and is celebrated with great pomp and show in various Southern as well as in Northern states.
COVID-19 dampens Ganesh Chaturthi festivities, sculptors await govt nod Every year, lakhs of devotees offer prayers to the idols daily for over eleven consecutive days. Pandal committees and artists work for months to organise festivities, build decorations and sculpt idols.
More than 10 thousand workers in Ayyankovilpattu, Arasoor and Tindivanam in Villupuram districts in Tamil Nadu are dependent on making Ganesha idols.
They started making idols of Lord Ganesha from last year and its sale will begin from August. But these workers are worried if Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated this year in the wake of Coronavirus pandemic.
The statues made in Villupuram, Cuddalore and Puducherry will be shipped to various districts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.
Commenting on this, Hari Krishnan, an idol maker from Villupuram district, said: "We have been engaged throughout the year in making idols for the Ganesha Chaturthi festival for this year. But it is rumoured that the Ganesh chathurthi celebrations may not be held in order to prevent escalation of the corona infection. Thus, the merchants who had advanced money against placement of orders for the idols are demanding refund."
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Speaking on this, a sculptor from Villupuram, Harikrishnan says, many workers who rely on this industry are confounded as to how to repay the advance. Idol making works are nearing completion. We are moving from pillar to post as to whether the Ganesha Chaturthi Festival be held this year? The government should make the relevant announcement at the earliest.”
More than 200 workers are engaged in the production of idols in Villupuram district. There are more than 100 idol making establishments in this district. There are at least 30 to 40 people employed in every one of these establishments. Each company invests thirty to forty lakh rupees every year.
The corona crisis has caused an economic emergency to the extent of Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh for a company. This situation has put them in a fix since they have started their business by taking loans from banks.
Worker Balaraman, says with anguish that merchant buyers have not come to purchase idols in fear of corona. “We have borrowed and invested in the making of the idols. We don't have any money to pay even the interest. There is no money to pay even for this month's electricity bills, and it would be better if the government gave us enough time. We are not getting any relief amount too. We are charged extra tax while purchasing raw materials for the product. The government should intervene and give us tax reliefs. If Ganesh Chaturthi is held this year, we will recover money spent or otherwise our family will be on the streets."
