15% surge in Ganapati idol rates due to increase in clay and PoP prices this season

Nashik: The cost of Ganesh idols being installed at homes during Ganeshotsav has escalated by 15% this festive season, as compared to prices last year.
According to pandal proprietors, costs fluctuate based on the idol's shape, size, and colour combinations. Clay idols range from Rs250 to Rs 3000, while those crafted from plaster of paris (PoP) vary from Rs100 to Rs5,000.
“This year, the prices of the idols have surged.The cost of a PoP idol of Lord Ganesh, which was Rs 90 last year, has now risen to Rs 100, and for the Rs 4,000 idol, the cost has soared to over Rs 4,800. This is a result of market dynamics,” stated Sandesh Patil, a stall owner.
Similarly, the prices of clay idols have also increased. Due to their weight, the size of these idols is restricted. “The smallest clay idol costs Rs 250, which is Rs 30 higher than last year. The larger idols cost around Rs 3,500, compared to Rs3,000 last year. However, this has not dampened the enthusiasm of people purchasing clay idols,” said Swapnil Kulkarni, an idol vendor.
Some idol sellers enhance the idols’ value by investing their own money and presenting them to the public. “All you need to do is reserve the idol with us, and we will adorn it with various decorative elements such as 'ratna', 'shalu', and velvet 'pitambar', all complimentary from us. There has been a demand for idols from Surat and Kalyan, and we have shipped them to these destinations,” said Akshay Shekde, an artist.
The cost factor, however, has not affected the fervour among people who purchase idols that suit their preferences. “People do not dwell much on the cost, and neither do the traders who refrain from overcharging unnecessarily. Usually, people visit the same stall to purchase the idol, ensuring good quality and reasonable prices,” remarked Sangeeta Bhamre, a working woman from Panchavati.