Ganesh Chaturthi is nearing… and people are gearing up in their own ways… just outside our building complex, there are large workshops where they craft Ganesh idols… one day out of my own interest, walked into one of their workshops to check on the art… they were only too happy to show me around… around 100+ artisans come from various parts of Maharashtra and work here for 3 months non-stop making these idols…
There were lots of idols on racks specially built for them… many were still taking shape… I asked them if I could help them in some way and they gave me a mould and some clay mixture… I struggled for some 15 minutes with the clay… but realized its too technical for me… so then helped them for a while spraying some chemical on the idols…
Since then everyday when I pass these workshops, I turn to look at the progress… idols are now being adorned in bright beautiful colours… they now look all the more intricate and vibrant… so I also happened to have a dialogue with a few artisans… they were very forthcoming (my native accent of marathi helped connect better I suppose!!!)… they took pride in their job (I didn’t dare to ask them their remunerations… I know it will be meager and it will only hurt me more than them…) on where they come from… how this art has passed on from generations etc etc…
I also asked them about the eco-friendly idols that are in demand these days and prompt came back the reply… its you and me who pollute this environment… not GOD… spare him of all these allegations… HE only brings in peace and prosperity… not pollution… I had no answer to this… no argument on this… I smiled at the profound answer and walked out of the workshop…
So everytime I see or think about these artisans… I feel upbeat about the strikingly satisfied faces and smiles on them… despite the poor working conditions… despite the scanty income… despite that they are away from their family… despite the long hours of hardwork… wonder where do they get this happiness from… with what a sublime heart has God created them… and a glance behind them gives the answer… it’s their belief in the purity of God… their inheritance of an unadulterated art… they being surrounded by the most superior being… their noble cause of bringing peace and prosperity in peoples homes and lives (in the form of God)… afterall they are the ones who CREATE GOD…