Prepping the lord
Pen — famous for its Ganesh idols across India — has artists making the idols for generations.
For the last 138 years, Pen, a few kilometres from Mumbai has been a hub for Ganesh idols that are shipped across India. The artists who have made this town their abode have been making them for generations. Anand Deodhar, a third generation has converted his house into a workshop, and makes Ganesha idols ranging from 6 inches to 1.5 metres.
The village has been making idols since 1860 when their ancestors migrated from various parts of Maharashtra and made Pen their home. Keeping up with the times, now they are putting conscious efforts to contribute into eco friendly Ganesha festival, where they are using Shadu Mati though POP and clay remains their preferred choice.
While some get Shadu mati from Bhavnagar in Gujarat, Deodhar manages to arrange them from various places of Maharashtra itself. However rest of the designing and painting material is now available in the village unlike earlier, when they used to travel to Alibagh and Mumbai.