A large number of policemen in plainclothes will keep a watch on the Ganesha festivities and videograph the proceedings in the city to prevent any untoward incident on Wednesday. City police commissioner B.G. Jyothiprakash Mirji on Tuesday briefed the media about security preparations for the festival. “Thousands observe this festival in the city. Everyone should enjoy the festival, but without hurting the sentiments of others. Bengalureans should ensure that they maintain peace,” Mr Mirji said.
The commissioner has told all the police stations to hold meetings with associations that have put up Ganesha pandals in their area. “The associations have been given specific instructions not to obstruct the movement of traffic. The loudspeakers should be maintained at the proper decibel levels as laid down by the pollution board,” he said. Dispelling any fears of terror attacks, he said, “There is no need for anyone in the city to worry about terror strikes or any kind of attacks.
“The city is safe and everyone should go out and enjoy. A large number of policemen in plainclothes will keep a watch. We will monitor the situation everywhere. We have asked all officials to be in civil clothes, so that the police will be better able to monitor any activity of miscreants. We will also videograph movements of people,” he said. The city police commissioner also warned: “Nobody should try to force money out of people in the name of Ganesha festival. If any such case is reported, we will take stern action.”
It's a riot of colours at Pottery Town
Even in the middle of a blazing hot Tuesday afternoon, Pottery Town is in a flurry of activity.
At this time of year, the area is home to over 50,000 idols of all shapes, sizes and varieties. Sixteen-foot Ganesha idols line the roads, with tiny brown rats perched devotedly by their side. A day before Chaturthi, the place is a riot of gold, crimson, greens and blues, the bright colours that are at home here.
Artisans set up make-shift shops as they prepare for the big day. “We only set up shop for a day,” says Mr Lazar, a local craftsman. For Mr Lazar and his family, making Ganesha idols is their only livelihood. From tiny idols as affordable as Rs 250 to the most imposing colossus priced at Rs 10000. An artist sits putting finishing touches to a six-foot statue of the more conventional sort, “We use only chemical paint,” says Mr Lazar. “Vegetable colouring fades in the sun.” Their idols will be sold out in 24 hours, for business is brisk and lucrative.
Further down the road is a more unique set up, full of novelty idols. A man stands atop a small stool, putting finishing touches on what looks like a zoozoo sitting astride a branch above the idol’s head. “It's a zoozoo and it's what people want!” The two brothers, sons of the shop owner, spend their day there. “We make all sorts of idols, we had a cricket Ganesha, a football Ganesha and even one that looked like Michael Jackson!" says Mr Aravinda. Making money is a seasonal activity for these brothers, who say it isn't as lucrative as they would like it to be. "We spend about four months of the year making idols and lamps for Deepavali, but the rest of the time, we have to work in restaurants to make ends meet."
Like most other artisans, they too stick to chemical paints, “We can't use watercolours,” Mr Aravinda says dismissively. “The colours will run if it gets caught in the rain and the dust makes it patchy, so we will have to paint it all over again. The finishing is easily ruined.” Eighteen-year-old Shashank is out festival shopping with his father and has decided on a mud statue this year. "We've read so much about using eco-friendly Ganeshas and while we want to celebrate the festival, we want to do it responsibly."
Amid all this activity is a small photograph that hangs from a stall, paying respects to a pastor, surprisingly enough. And it just proved more than ever that for these people, making Ganesha idols is not merely business, religion or even art. It is life itself.