Idle Worship?
Fewer neighbourhoods are celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi as a community festival
The Darling of India is back for his 10-day sojourn. Ganesh Chaturthi is less than a month away and this season is a true test for his devotees. Idol-makers in Mumbai are reporting a 10 percent drop in advance orders for the larger (over six feet high) idols typically ordered by housing societies.
Translation: People are broke, so no more donations for community activities. Pity. This was the one festival that got the neighbours to catch up with each other at least once a year.
True Ganesh bhakts can’t be kept away from their God. Idol-makers report a surge in orders for smaller idols (up to 3 feet): They’re up between 10 to 30 percent. If the society doesn’t opt for a Ganpati, at least people will have it in their homes.
Ah well. On the positive side, fewer large idols means fewer traffic jams on immersion days.
Research: Karthik Krishnan & Abhishek Raghunath
(This story appears in the 14 August, 2009 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)
