Journalism of Courage
Adding life and colours to the world famous Dagdusheth Halwai Ganesha idol for the past 40 years has not been anything short of a devoted service to the Lord for Sridhar Mukhedkar. Previously a drawing teacher in high school in Aurangabad,where he taught landscape art and figurine,Mukhedkar was drawn to Pune as he found his inspiration in the divinity of the event and the emotions involved. “I visited the city during the festive Ganesh Chaturthi season and the beauty and colour of the flamboyant Ganpati idols and processions had a deep impact on me and I decided to quit my job to come and settle in the Peshwa city,” the plucky septuagenarian enthuses.
Rajendra Mukhedkar,Sridhar’s son who has taken over reigns of the Dagdusheth painting informs,”The nakshi design(creative pattern on the trunk of Ganpati) for Dagdusheth has always remained the same since it is recognisable all over Maharashtra so we have to respect the traditional and respectability factors,which come into play. However,we are given the freedom to change the colours of the draperies adorned by the idol every single year. It is a great honour to be associated with a representation of the deity that means so much to multitudes”,Mukhedkar says.
Mukhedkar credits Lord Ganesha himself as the inspiration for his creativity. “Whenever I colour the idols,I feel an overwhelming sense of devotion to God so I try hardest to give my best effort. Every morning,the moment I wake up,I lay at the feet of the unfinished Ganpati idol to ask for his blessings before proceeding with work. I feel extremely lucky to be in this line of profession”. His son Rajendra Mukehedkar,who specialises in making the eyes of the idols as life-like and emotional as possible says,Father’s devotion is what motivates us to put in our 100 per cent. It is from him we have learnt our art”.
Beyond his association with the historical Dagduseth Ganapati,Mukhedkar also handles paint demands from renowned mandals like Jilbya Maruti,Garuda Ganpati,Kajina Vihir,Market Yard,and Nimbalkar Talim. “In addition to painting for around 200 mandals,we make about four life-sized idols for a few mandals,which have to place their orders six months before the festival.”
Recalling memories from past Mukhedkar says that he used to mould small Ganesha idols before opening the studio and making idol painting his primary focus. The studio now employs 12 workers and craftsmen from far-flung villages and outskirts.
The idols have to be brought to the studio one and a half month prior to the start of the Chaturthi season”,Mukhedkar explains,”It takes three days to complete work on an individual idol and considering the total number of idols we receive per year,we don’t bend our rules for any late submissions simply due to suffocating time constraints.
Swine flu being the topic of the season,the younger Mukhedkar mentions,”Though the epidemic spread hasn’t affected the number of idols coming in for work,it has definitely dampened the festive season to a slight extent”.
Still,Mukhedkar is undeterred and he resolutely closes off,”Right now,even though I am 76 there is still a lot of life in me. I can guarantee that I’ll be around till the ripe age of eighty so I’m not done yet!”
