PoP, labour costs up due to war, prices of Ganesh idols set to rise

Mumbai: As Ganesh moortikars prepare to erect makeshift workshops next fortnight, they warn that the cost of Ganpati idols may rise exponentially this festive season. Ganeshotsav this year will be celebrated from Sept 14-25.The cloud of the West Asia conflict, coupled with India’s domestic inflationary situation, has multiplied costs of raw material, transportation, space rental and labour wages. Moortikars of Pen have already hiked prices by 25%.Leading city moortikar Siddhesh Dighole said, “Even before procurement has begun, plaster of paris (PoP) is costlier by up to Rs 25-30 per 20kg bag. Certain fast-drying varieties are imported from Oman and Iran, and supply is erratic owing to the war in West Asia. Wages are escalating because many artisans and labourers are diverting to Hyderabad where work starts in Jan.”Dighole said, “We use commercial LPG to burn the flame that lends finish to the idol. And gas costs have soared to Rs 3,500 per cylinder. Some large heavy idols particularly involving fibre may come to cost Rs 1 lakh. I am taking limited orders this year.”Petrol and diesel prices have catapulted transportation costs. Every single item used in idol making has to be transported either within the city or outside—from raw material to finished idols.Well known sculptor Reshma Khatu of Vijay Khatu Studio said, “Prices of raw material do rise by a certain percentage each year. This year, they are far higher. Most of all, labourers are now demanding exponentially higher daily wages. Earlier we paid Rs 1,200-1,500 per day. Now, they are seeking Rs 2,000. This is a big pressure on us right now.”Khatu said where once moortikars engaged their own workers, they now hire contractors to get the task done. “We hire numerous categories of workers, from preparing the metal frame to sculpting, painting and finishing the idol. If we must retain them, we will have to pay far more this season.”Enormous rental costs of workshop space are another burden. “We request the state govt to allow us the use of public parks which lie unused during the monsoon to set up small sheds for our Ganpati karkhanas,” Khatu said.Mid-level moortikars, like Lalabhai Bhaliya whose beauteous idols in Kamathipura and Central Mumbai draw eyeballs, said, “Given present inflation, by the time Ganeshotsav arrives in Sept, the cost of idols could rise by Rs 5,000-10,000 over last year. Larger, heavier idols will see a greater hike.”Moortikars rued that clients are in denial over inflation as they see Ganeshotsav through the prism of emotion. “They say ‘yes, there is inflation, but how can you charge so much for a religious celebration?’”