In the bylanes of Vilachery, in Madurai district, there is a palpable buzz of frenzied energy that of artisans busy at their work. With just a week to go for Ganesh Chathurthi, in almost all the houses, the women folk are bent over little Ganeshas, some busy pressing the mud in prefabricated wooden moulds to get the desired shape, while some are busy giving a varnish and coat of water soluble paint to the idols.
In some nooks, big size Ganeshas are being prepared and this year, the tallest that is being made here is an eight-feet idol, which is getting its final coat of paint.
M. Ramalingam, senior artisan, said that this year the business has been good. Though prices have increased from last year, the sales have also improved. This year about 10 tonnes of plaster of paris has been sourced from Thoothukudi, where there are a large number of gypsum companies. Last year, the price of one tonne of plaster of paris was ₹10,000 and this year it has gone up to ₹13,000. Similarly transport charges have also increased, he said.
