Covid-19 broke the backbone of sculpture business in Aligarh. Ninety per cent of the sculpture supplied in temples all over India are manufactured in Aligarh. The city has around 500 small and big factories that manufacture the sculptures of Gods and Godess.
They manufacture sculptures from weighing 50g to 500 kg .These are supplied all over India and also exported abroad and does a business of about 4,500crore including the export business. Covid -19 has hit hard not only on this business but also on the workers who used to work in these factories.
Brass sculpture of God and Godesses are made in Aligarh in all over North India. From here these idols/sculptures are supplied all over India. This is the first time since independence that only few sculptures has gone out of town. Otherwise, on ordinary days, these statues are ported within the whole country as well as exported abroad.
Currently the demand has come down due to the closure of most of the temples in the country. Along with religious places like Banaras, Ujjain, Prayagraj, Mathura, Vrindavan, Govardhan Parvat etc. all major temples are also closed and the shops nearby are also closed. Due to which demand has been less. Earlier, from Shri Krishna Janmashtami to Navratri, there was a great demand for sculptures of Gods and Goddesses.
Brass idols are mostly sold, apart fr them earthen statues are also sold but due to the shiny brass statues, people like them more. Along with these statues, the entire decoration is also made according to the size which goes with these statues. This time this demand is also very less. Wholesale traders told that these idols reach all over the country in tonnes from Aligarh.
Vipin Bihari Gupta. Chairman Aligarh Statue Suppliers Association told Pioneer that "All other pilgrimage sites from Mathura Vrindavan, Barsana-Gokul, Banaras, Ujjain, Haridwar are closed. People are in homes. That is why neither shops are opening nor there is a demand for sculpture. This is the first time that there is silence in the wholesale market during the festival of Janmashtami".
Ashok Yadav, Yadav Metals. Patron Statue Suppliers Association told " it has never happened in my memory that when any idol businessman gets free time in these days. This time the demand is absolutely local, there is no demand outside. Due to which the entire business is affected".
Sushil Mittal, Brass Collection said "Everything is closed due to Corona. In such a situation, only localites are buying the sculptures. The entire business has been affected. We are now expecting for the coming few months".
Mohit Aggarwal, Smart Murthy said "Demand is very low. Now we expect better business in Navratri after the quarter.This has never happened before during the Janmashtmi. Now we are preparing for the coming months".
Raja Singharia, businessmen said "I am from Vrindavan, all the temples are closed there, so this time there is less demand for lord Krishna sculpture. Otherwise this season the shops used to be crowded. This is not the case this time".