Artisans Battle Damp Weather As September 14 Festival Nears
Key Points:
- Continuous rainfall is slowing the drying of Ganesh idols across Jamshedpur
- Artisans are using tin sheds, fans and plastic sheets to protect statues
- Younger generation shows little interest in continuing the sculpting trade
JAMSHEDPUR – Idol-makers across Jamshedpur are racing against unseasonal rain to finish Ganesh idols before the September 14 festival. Excess moisture has slowed the drying process at several workshops in the city. Sculptors say this year’s rainfall has been heavier than usual, and it has pushed their production timelines well past schedule.
Painting and finishing touches have also been delayed because of the damp conditions. Many artisans are now working through the night to make up for lost time. They have doubled their effort in an attempt to meet pending orders before the deadline.
To keep the clay figures from getting damaged, workshop owners have turned to tin sheds, plastic covers and electric fans. Temporary shelters have been set up at several sites to shield the unfinished idols from sudden downpours. Even so, the unpredictable weather continues to trouble the craftsmen.
“We have never seen the clay take this long to dry,” a Jamshedpur-based idol-maker said. He added that workers are checking the statues every few hours to prevent cracking.
Meanwhile, the artisans say their earnings do not match the labour involved in making the idols. Rising costs of raw clay, colours and transport have not been matched by a proportional rise in prices. This gap has eaten into their income for several years running.
Besides the weather, the sculptors also pointed to a lack of a permanent workspace provided by the local administration. They are forced to set up temporary shops every year, which adds to their difficulties during the festive season. Some artisans said this uncertainty discourages long-term investment in tools and equipment.
On the other hand, a deeper worry has emerged around the future of the craft itself. Younger residents are showing little interest in taking up idol-making, artisans said. Difficult working conditions and limited income are being blamed for pushing the next generation away from the profession. Several sculptors fear that the tradition could fade in the coming years without fresh recruits.
River water levels in and around the city have also stayed elevated this season, adding to the general disruption caused by the rain. Localities have reported damaged roads and waterlogging in several pockets, which has further complicated movement of goods for the idol-making units.
Markets in the city are nonetheless showing enthusiasm ahead of the festival, with puja committees finalising their preparations. Attention has now shifted to whether the sculptors can complete all the idols in time. Many committees are hoping to receive their statues by September 13, a day before devotees begin the celebrations.
Jamshedpur has also been preparing for other religious events around the same period, including the Janmashtami festivities held earlier this month at Sidgora Surya Mandir, which drew large crowds despite the wet conditions. The city’s flood alert earlier this week had already left several neighbourhoods dealing with disrupted routines, a pattern the idol-makers say has now spilled into their workshops as well.
