With the increasing craze for gold, silver, crystal, precious and semi precious stones and other attractive metals, the idols of Goddess lakshmi and lord Ganesha too have been given a metallic touch this Diwali.
Idols made of expensive metals are seen replacing the traditional idols made from clay. The actual festival may last a couple of days but preparations for Diwali start at least a week ahead and as per the tradition, houses are cleaned before bringing in idols of lakshmi and Ganesha.
They are also kept in the safe, which is believed to increase wealth in the home. In recent years, there has been a change in the marketing trend as well. Now the metallic idols are being preferred more than the clay idols. Idols of gods and goddesses made from metals and crystal are increasing in popularity nowadays.
According to, Ganesh Prajapati, owner of Ganga Sharma Prajapati shop at Kumhar (potters) Mandi, idols of lakshmi and Ganesha made of clay are considered pure in comparison to the idols made from metallic substances. Prajapati said that these clay idols are cheap and easily affordable costing between Rs 20-100.
He said that with the increasing trend of crystal, silver and golden idols the sale of clay idols has decreased considerably. "I have completed about 50 years in this profession and have noticed a huge decline in the sale of clay idols. Metal idols are replacing the traditional clay idols. The sale of clay idols has decreased by 50 per cent,” avers Prajapati.
Rajendra Singh of Nirmala General Store, said that these idols are brought from cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Agra, Meerut and other places. He added that in recent years the sale of clay idols has been decreasing regularly. "Earlier we used sell clay idols worth Rs 50,000 approximately every year but now the sale has reduced to just Rs 25,000 in value."
lal Bahadur Prajapati, a local shopkeeper said that the demand and sale of clay idols of lakshmi and Ganesha has declined drastically in recent years. It has become half of what it was in the past, he added. Kanchan, another shopkeeper at Kumhar Mandi said, "Due to the decreasing sale of these idols now we don’t bring clay idols in large quantity."
Chakrata Road resident Shreya Gupta said, "The metallic and crystal idols are more attractive and long lasting in comparison to the clay idols. They don’t need to be changed every year.”