Mangaluru : Ganesha idols are ready to celebrate the festival of Ganesh. The family of the late Mohan Rao in Mannagudda, Mangalore, has been making idols of clay Ganapathi for the past 92 years. Beginning with the production of about 70 Ganapati idols in 1929 by Mohan Rao, it has now reached 230 idols. Prabhakar Rao, Sudhaka Rao, Ramachandra Rao, sons of Mohan Roy are currently working on idol-making.

We collect raw materials for the idol as a ‘Chaitra Nakshtra’. We paint it in the new moon. Those who want to make an idol from us are ordered to give the peeta of Lord Ganesha. We make Ganapathi a modest 9 inches to 8 feet, ”says Ramachandra Rao, son of Mohan Rao, a retired bank employee who prepares the idol.

There are 16 organizations and 241 houses making Ganapathy idols here. Sangha Niketana, Mithra mandali Bijai, Devinagar Padavangadi, Friends Club Kodial Bail, Hindu Seva Samiti Kulasekhara, Dost Cricketers Bokka Patna, Mangalore Police Line, Hop Comms Karangallapady, Sevanjali Farangipete, Housing Board Ganapathy idols preparing here.

The idols that Ganapati is making here are eco-friendly. They use paint that does not contain lead and other chemical elements.

“We only distribute more idols here in Mangalore. One or two idols are exported abroad,” says Ramachandra Rao.

Another place for Ganapathi idol is Car Street’s Art Workshop. Its owner Vinayak Shet is known for making idols. For the past 27 years, they use of natural color and the clay from the Kundapur Tiles factory has been used for idols. He has been making idols with his team for the past five months. About 330 Eco Friendly Ganapathi idols are made and sent to Urva, Asigoli and Vamanjur and other places.