Friday 5 August 2011
The village that became Ganeshas abode
Uttam Ghosh and Abhishek Mande travel to Pen, a village in the Sahyadri's, where Ganpati idols are traditionally made.
Situated a little over 80 km from Mumbai, Pen is a small town that like most other small towns in India was once a village. Yet in more ways Pen is a far cry from all those towns, where today swanky cars occupy most of the narrow roads and malls and multiplexes have sprung up.
There are, as far as the eye can see, not many tall buildings. The only tall building stands in the market square, a quasi-administrative structure, rather ostentatiously named after former chief minister Sharad Pawar.
The roads are in poor condition and most residents of Pen continue to use the state transport buses to reach Mumbai. A six-seater contraption called Vikram that accommodates at least a dozen people is the most reliable form of local transport.
For most of the year, Pen is an all but forgotten place, a signboard that you pass while heading to Alibaug, a popular tourist destination for Mumbaikars.
Come Shravan, the holy month of the Hindus, and Pen is tthe cynosure of all eyes. Traffic heading into the town suddenly goes up and along every street corner, vehicles with blue plastic sheets covering their frames stand solemnly, before houses that seem busier than ever.
This is where Ganeshas come to life -- some of them sitting comfortably with a modak in their right hand, others dancing with a little drum, some which espouse a social or patriotic message.
This small town that was once a village is now Ganesha's abode. It has been that way for over 115 years when a few men, having migrated from various parts of Maharashtra made Pen their home.
Image: A traditional Ganpati idol at a workshop in Pen
Photographs: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com
Situated a little over 80 km from Mumbai, Pen is a small town that like most other small towns in India was once a village. Yet in more ways Pen is a far cry from all those towns, where today swanky cars occupy most of the narrow roads and malls and multiplexes have sprung up.
There are, as far as the eye can see, not many tall buildings. The only tall building stands in the market square, a quasi-administrative structure, rather ostentatiously named after former chief minister Sharad Pawar.
The roads are in poor condition and most residents of Pen continue to use the state transport buses to reach Mumbai. A six-seater contraption called Vikram that accommodates at least a dozen people is the most reliable form of local transport.
For most of the year, Pen is an all but forgotten place, a signboard that you pass while heading to Alibaug, a popular tourist destination for Mumbaikars.
Come Shravan, the holy month of the Hindus, and Pen is tthe cynosure of all eyes. Traffic heading into the town suddenly goes up and along every street corner, vehicles with blue plastic sheets covering their frames stand solemnly, before houses that seem busier than ever.
This is where Ganeshas come to life -- some of them sitting comfortably with a modak in their right hand, others dancing with a little drum, some which espouse a social or patriotic message.
This small town that was once a village is now Ganesha's abode. It has been that way for over 115 years when a few men, having migrated from various parts of Maharashtra made Pen their home.
Image: A traditional Ganpati idol at a workshop in Pen
Photographs: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com
Ganapati goes to Canada Holland UK from Pune
Numerous Ganpati devotees in foreign countries are able to celebrate Ganeshotsav thanks to a man from the city called Bhalchandra Deshmukh. This year, he has sent 930 idols to London in the UK, Canada, MauritiusHolland. and
He claims sending such a large number of idols is a record for the city.
“I am happy that almost all the requirements from foreign countries where Maharashtrians are settled were met this year,” he said.
Deshmukh says people in foreign countries have links to the city and place their orders for the idols six months in advance.
“I made it possible for them to celebrate Ganeshotsav by sending them the idols in time,” he said.
Deshmukh, who sends Ganesh idols overseas every year, is an environment-conscious exporter.
“All my idols are eco-friendly, made with Shadu or plaster of Paris (POP),” Deshmukh said. “Last year I exported about 800 idols and the number is increasing every year.”
Anand Desai, from Desai Bandhu Ambewale, said that from this year they were sending Ganpati idols to the US, the UK and other European countries.
“So far, 20 idols have been booked and we expect to send about 40 Ganesh idols before September 10,” said Desai.
There are also people who send idols to relatives abroad.
Vikrant Jadhav has sent a Ganesh idol to his married sister Anuradha Bawadkar, an IT engineer in Tranto.
“We sent the idol four days ago, and she will celebrate Ganeshotsav with her family,” said Jadhav.
Grahak Peth in Sadashiv Peth has sent 25 Shadu soil idols to the US.
“Many families want to celebrate Ganesh festival at their homes. We have started sending them idols by courier services from last year,” Suryakant Pathak, managing director, Grahak Peth, said.
Uday Joshi, president, Ninad Prathishthan, said that last year they had sent a big idol to Holland for a grand celebration there.
“This year also we are waiting to do the same,” said Joshi.
Ananda Deodhar, a traditional sculptor who makes and sends Ganpati idols every year from the famous Pen village, said many foreign devotees insist on made-in-Pen Ganpati idols as they have faith that these are the best.
He claims sending such a large number of idols is a record for the city.
“I am happy that almost all the requirements from foreign countries where Maharashtrians are settled were met this year,” he said.
Deshmukh says people in foreign countries have links to the city and place their orders for the idols six months in advance.
“I made it possible for them to celebrate Ganeshotsav by sending them the idols in time,” he said.
Deshmukh, who sends Ganesh idols overseas every year, is an environment-conscious exporter.
“All my idols are eco-friendly, made with Shadu or plaster of Paris (POP),” Deshmukh said. “Last year I exported about 800 idols and the number is increasing every year.”
Anand Desai, from Desai Bandhu Ambewale, said that from this year they were sending Ganpati idols to the US, the UK and other European countries.
“So far, 20 idols have been booked and we expect to send about 40 Ganesh idols before September 10,” said Desai.
There are also people who send idols to relatives abroad.
Vikrant Jadhav has sent a Ganesh idol to his married sister Anuradha Bawadkar, an IT engineer in Tranto.
“We sent the idol four days ago, and she will celebrate Ganeshotsav with her family,” said Jadhav.
Grahak Peth in Sadashiv Peth has sent 25 Shadu soil idols to the US.
“Many families want to celebrate Ganesh festival at their homes. We have started sending them idols by courier services from last year,” Suryakant Pathak, managing director, Grahak Peth, said.
Uday Joshi, president, Ninad Prathishthan, said that last year they had sent a big idol to Holland for a grand celebration there.
“This year also we are waiting to do the same,” said Joshi.
Ananda Deodhar, a traditional sculptor who makes and sends Ganpati idols every year from the famous Pen village, said many foreign devotees insist on made-in-Pen Ganpati idols as they have faith that these are the best.
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