As Ganesh Chaturthi approaches in just a month, the usually vibrant workshops in Maharashtra’s renowned idol-making region are eerily quiet. The villages of Johe and Tambadshet in the Pen taluka of Raigad district have been devastated by flooding, with clay idols in various stages of completion submerged in mud and rendered irreparable. This disaster has left numerous artisans facing staggering financial losses amounting to crores.
This recent calamity follows another blow to the local idol-making sector. Reports from The Indian Express indicated that ongoing conflicts in West Asia have disrupted the export of Ganesh idols, leading to increased shipping costs, freight delays, and uncertainty regarding international orders. This has adversely affected artisans and exporters just as the festive season approaches.
On Tuesday, floodwaters surged rapidly in the two neighboring villages after relentless rainfall caused nearby creeks to overflow. Artisans reported that they had little time to react as water inundated their workshops, sweeping away idols that had taken months to create.
Mahendra Ganesh Patil, aged 43, from Shivratna Kalakendra, expressed his shock at the devastation, noting that his family has been crafting Ganesh idols for generations. “I had approximately 500 idols, mostly between 1.5 and 2 feet tall, ready for sale in Mumbai and Pune. In just 30 minutes, everything was gone. I arrived at my workshop around 11:30 am; there was no water earlier, but suddenly the entire area was flooded,” he recounted. Patil estimated his losses at a minimum of Rs 15 lakh for the finished idols alone, not including the costs of materials, labor, and transport.
The timing of this disaster is particularly unfortunate for idol makers, as they typically spend months preparing for Ganesh Chaturthi. Many idols had already been ordered by customers throughout Maharashtra, with several intended for shipment beyond state lines.
Prashant Bhagwan Patil, 36, who oversees Shree Ganesh Arts, reported that nearly 400 idols of various sizes were lost. “Everything vanished. My estimated losses are around Rs 10 lakh, possibly more,” he stated. Although he holds insurance tied to a bank loan, he is uncertain about the amount of compensation he might receive. “A bank official needs to conduct a survey first, and it can take months before we see any compensation,” he added.
Anant Sambhaji Mokan, 55, president of the Hamrapur Ganesh Murtikar Sanghatana, a collective of artisans, highlighted that the devastation is widespread, impacting not just individual workshops. “Approximately 80 percent of the Ganesh idols used during the festival are produced in our villages. Over 1,000 idol makers are based here, and about 50 families in the low-lying regions have sustained significant damage,” he explained.
“We are still evaluating the losses, but they will undoubtedly amount to crores. Almost every affected artisan has lost between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 20 lakh,” Mokan added. He noted that in certain areas, floodwaters reached heights of five to six feet. “The hardest hit are those who create eco-friendly clay idols, as contact with water completely destroys them, leaving no chance for recovery,” he stated.
In addition to the loss of their idols, artisans now face the challenge of repaying advances given by customers. Many have taken out loans from banks to fund production before the festival. Mokan criticized the insurance associated with these loans, stating it provides insufficient coverage.
Ravindra Pandernath Rasal, 43, who operates Sahil Kalakendra, described how floodwaters engulfed his workshop in moments. “We now have only two choices—either remake the idols in the limited time remaining or refund customers. Both options are incredibly challenging,” he said. Rasal added that no government official had visited his workshop immediately following the floods. Industry representatives noted that the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, as ongoing rainfall has hindered surveys in many affected areas.
The Pen region has historically been recognized as Maharashtra’s center for Ganesh idol production. For many artisans, the months leading up to Ganesh Chaturthi represent virtually their entire annual income.
With the festival just a month away, many artisans now confront the overwhelming task of restarting production from scratch, grappling with debts, damaged workshops, and uncertainty regarding potential compensation.
“These are not merely statues. Each idol is handcrafted over several weeks. Witnessing them disappear before our eyes in mere minutes is truly heartbreaking,” Mahendra Patil lamented.
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