For over three decades, skilled idol makers from West Bengal have played a key role in Hubballi’s grand Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, crafting towering idols that draw crowds from across the region. Covering a journey of around 2,000 km, these artisans arrive three months before the festival, bringing fine clay from the banks of the Ganga to create their masterpieces.
The tradition began in 1994, when Appu Pal, an artisan from Krishnanagar, was invited by Bengali railway officers to make Durga idols for Navaratri. Since then, the craftsmanship of West Bengal artists has become central to Ganesh Chaturthi in Hubballi, a city with a century-old history of celebrating the festival. Teams like Appu Pal’s and Sanjay Pal’s now produce over 200 large idols each year, with some reaching heights of 23 feet.
Special Techniques and Growing Demand
These artisans employ a unique method, using bamboo, wood sticks, dry grass, and jute inside, with a clay outer layer, making their idols both sturdy and visually striking. After the ban on plaster-of-Paris idols, demand for their eco-friendly creations has surged, and their idols are now sought after in surrounding areas like Haveri, Gadag, and even as far as Chitradurga district.
Appu Pal, whose team alone crafted 95 large idols this year, attributes the fine finish of their idols to the use of “Ganga ki maatee” (clay from the Ganga). He explains that the clay’s superior texture is integral to their tradition. Following Ganesh Chaturthi, these artisans also prepare Durga idols for Navaratri before returning to West Bengal.
Local Competition and Changing Trends
While the large, cost-effective idols made by Bengali artisans have become the popular choice, local idol makers, like Basavaraj Kambar of Old Hubballi, express concern over the impact on their business. He notes that while local artists use more clay, the Bengali artisans’ use of wood and grass allows them to produce idols at a lower cost, further increasing their appeal.
The trend of installing large idols in Hubballi began in the 1990s and has only grown since. The city now boasts over 900 community idols, surpassing even Belagavi, long considered the center of Karnataka’s grandest Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.
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