The Karigars of Parel Workshop: Sculpting Faith, Year After Year

In the heart of Mumbai’s busy Parel, far from the city’s glass towers and traffic jams, stands a workshop that has been part of the city’s cultural fabric for decades, the Parel Workshop. Here, faith is not just practised but sculpted by hand. For years, the karigars (artisans) of this workshop have been shaping the beloved idols of Lord Ganesha, filling every curve, detail, and expression with both artistry and devotion. To many Mumbaikars, Ganesh Chaturthi begins not with the arrival of the idol at their homes or mandals, but right here, where the first strokes of clay and plaster take form.

A year-round symphony of faith

Unlike what many may imagine, the work of these artisans doesn’t begin a few months before the festival—it is a year-long rhythm. The moment one Ganesh Chaturthi season ends, preparations for the next quietly begin. "We have already started the sculpting and design process for the coming year", says Arun Datte, a karigar at the Parel Workshop, who is now the third generation practising this divine art. The karigars dedicate themselves to sculpting idols for Maghi Ganpati and other festivals, where intricate designs and elaborate decorations require months of effort. Each idol undergoes countless hours of meticulous detailing, from the shaping of the trunk and ornaments to the delicate painting of the eyes, known as the netra-daan.

The workshop hums with a steady symphony of chisels, brushes, and whispered prayers, turning raw material into sacred form. "We have around 300 to 400 orders annually. And, for the smaller idols, the design and the work are comparatively easy. Still, for the larger idols, you require expertise", says Datte, aged 40, who has now taken charge of Parel Cha Maharaja, Malabar Hill Ganesh Bappa and also an eco-friendly 20-foot idol, made entirely from papier-mache and husk. 

The process of idol-making

Creating a Ganpati idol is not just a craft; it is an act of devotion layered with patience. It begins with a simple framework, often made of bamboo or wood, over which clay or Plaster of Paris is carefully moulded. As the form grows, the karigars bring out Ganesha’s expressions, his calm eyes, his gentle smile, the blessing of his raised hand. After days of sculpting, the idols are left to dry before layers of paint and decoration bring them to life. The final touch, netra-daan, when the eyes are painted, is considered the most sacred act. "We have an expert who only comes to paint the eye, the most holy and important part of sculpting an idol, says Shinde, who is also the second generation working at the Parel Workshop. "It is the moment when, for the artisans, the idol becomes divine, and for the 37 years, we have the same person come in to draw the eyes". 

The life of the karigars

The karigars of Parel Workshop are not just craftsmen; they are custodians of a cultural and spiritual tradition. Many of them come from families where this craft has been passed down through generations. Their lives revolve around the workshop, with long hours spent in the company of clay, colours, and devotion. Similarly, is the story of Polekar, who is the fourth generation in this act of divinity. "My great-grandfather was the one who began making murtis from laal maati or shaadu maati at Chiplun. Later, when he came to Mumbai, he decided to start a business, where he would also train and teach young children how to make murtis", says the murtikaar. The work is painstaking, yet it is filled with pride and purpose.

For them, every idol that leaves the workshop is not just a sculpture but a piece of their soul, destined to become the centrepiece of someone’s worship and joy. Yet, their journey is not without challenges. The demand for idols grows every year, and with it comes rising costs of materials and competition from mass-produced idols. "The raw materials of eco-friendly Ganesh idols are getting costlier day by day, and for us, that becomes the biggest challenge. Thus, we have no other option but to slightly increase the cost of these idols, so we can survive", says Shinde. However, this year the BMC supplied shaadu maati to 900 karigars in Mumbai. 

Families, faith, and changing times

The Parel Workshop is not just a workplace; it is a community. Various mandap organisers often visit to choose their idols, sometimes returning year after year to the same artisan, building bonds that go beyond transactions. For many, buying their idol from Parel is a tradition in itself, a way to keep continuity with the past.  At the same time, the new generation of karigars faces a dilemma. Many of the artisans’ children are moving away from the family profession, choosing careers outside the workshop. While education and new opportunities are welcome, this shift also raises questions about the future of idol-making as a craft. Will the next generation carry forward the legacy, or will it fade in the face of modernity? For now, the older artisans continue their work with quiet determination, hoping that the tradition survives.

While Mumbai awaits the arrival of Ganpati every year with grand music and celebrations, the true beginning of the festival takes place in the quiet lanes of Parel. Here, long before the sounds of aartis and drums fill the air, the karigars are at work, sculpting faith with patience and love. "For us, Bappa, is everything. It's a bittersweet feeling when we spend endless hours on a murti, and it has to leave our workshop studio, but nothing beats the immense joy it brings people. Our lives revolve around him", says Shinde. The Parel Workshop is not just a studio; it is a living heritage, where every idol is a story of dedication, artistry, and devotion. And as each finished murti leaves the workshop, it carries with it not just the image of Ganesha, but the spirit of the artisans who bring him to life year after year.