Vinayak Shet could have been another Ganesha idol maker in Mangaluru, but what makes him different is the fact that he makes only eco-friendly idols with the assistance of a group of girls.
Having screen printing as his major avocation, Mr. Shet is into Ganesh idol making for over 25 years under the banner of Rathabeedi Arts Workshop Artists and works out of his ancestral premises on Car Street. He starts making Ganesh idols from March-April by getting clay from paddy fields in Koteshwara, off Kundapura in Udupi district. Akshatha, Reshma, Chaithra and Supreetha are some of the girls working with him in idol making.
Also, Mr. Shet’s idols are not heavy. He uses moulds to prepare the idols thereby leaving them hollow inside. Asked how did he develop the penchant for idol making, Mr. Shet said he was attracted by the niraakara concept of Ganesh.
There is no set parameter to make Ganesh idol and the artist has the freedom to imbibe various concepts. The artist in him enjoys this freedom, Mr. Shet said. He remembers the guidance from M.S. Kudva and Shivamogga Rajashekhar. He started his career in Ganesh idol making by preparing seven to eight idols in the initial days and this year Mr. Shet is preparing 108 idols having sole 57 last year. The size and price range from 1 ft to 10 ft, from Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 10,000. The clay idols get dried naturally in about 15 days, after which they are given the finishing touch. Mr. Shet claims he uses only natural colours on the idols. The natural colours are prepared by mixing lime with some vegetable ingredients, he said.
Having screen printing as his major avocation, Mr. Shet is into Ganesh idol making for over 25 years under the banner of Rathabeedi Arts Workshop Artists and works out of his ancestral premises on Car Street. He starts making Ganesh idols from March-April by getting clay from paddy fields in Koteshwara, off Kundapura in Udupi district. Akshatha, Reshma, Chaithra and Supreetha are some of the girls working with him in idol making.
Also, Mr. Shet’s idols are not heavy. He uses moulds to prepare the idols thereby leaving them hollow inside. Asked how did he develop the penchant for idol making, Mr. Shet said he was attracted by the niraakara concept of Ganesh.
There is no set parameter to make Ganesh idol and the artist has the freedom to imbibe various concepts. The artist in him enjoys this freedom, Mr. Shet said. He remembers the guidance from M.S. Kudva and Shivamogga Rajashekhar. He started his career in Ganesh idol making by preparing seven to eight idols in the initial days and this year Mr. Shet is preparing 108 idols having sole 57 last year. The size and price range from 1 ft to 10 ft, from Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 10,000. The clay idols get dried naturally in about 15 days, after which they are given the finishing touch. Mr. Shet claims he uses only natural colours on the idols. The natural colours are prepared by mixing lime with some vegetable ingredients, he said.