Harshini Brahmavar
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Aug 19: Balachandra Gamskar from Ambagilu here has been making idols of Lord Ganapati purely as a service to art and not for commercial gain. He began with just three idols and this time he has made 38 such idols. Gamskar has been involved with the making of Ganapati idols since the last 19 years.
Gamskar, after completing his SSLC education, completed his drawing master course and art master courses through Chitra Kala Mandir here.
He has been involved with painting for the last three decades, but has chosen to depend on billboards, banner designs, sticker works, making art forms out of thermocol etc for a living. Around 19 years ago, just for curiosity sake, he created the idol of Lord Ganapati for celebrating Ganesha Chaturthi for Geleyara Balaga. Thereafter, he has been making such idols whenever he gets demand.
Gamskar gets busy creating mud forms of Lord Ganapati since about two to two and a half months before the festival. He says that one has to work continuously day and night for two days to make one idol. Whenever they have time, his wife Kavita and children also help in painting the idols. Once the work begins at 9.30 am, it goes on till 11.30 to 1 am.
The artist says that it is difficult to get clay for making the idols as many tile factories have closed down. Still, he brought clay this time from Kundapur for the purpose.
The guides and teachers who taught him the art of making clay shapes were Shekhar Poojary Alevoor and Bhaskar Kotian Malpe. All the idols prepared by him are worshipped at homes. He makes idols for only those who provide him pedestals for the idols.
Balachandra is happy that more people are now leaning towards getting natural clay idols without any colour. He feels that this is a good development.
Balachandra's wife Kavita, speaking to Daijiworld, said that because of work pressure, she could not give much time for this job all these years. However, this time, she has been devoting a lot of time to paint the idols. She says the work makes her happy. When she came here, she says, there were only three idols, but there are 38 now.
People pray to Lord Ganapati before undertaking any auspicious work. Balachandra too visits Anegudde and Uppoor temples and consumes Prasadam before starting work on idols. During the three months he is busy with the idols, he shuns non-vegetarian food. When handing over the idols, he says, he accepts betel leaves, coconut and banana, and draws the 'vision (drishti)' for the idol before handing over the idol.
Balachandra Gamskar says that there have been many untoward incidents because of coronavirus infection. "But this period has also brought about a change in the thinking and lifestyle of the people. People are now seeking ancient traditions, belief systems and rural employment. When we accept the situation in a positive manner, this reality strikes. Trouble is expected when we take the route of transformation. When the availability of natural things is short, people resort to cheaper things made by using chemicals. It is a natural response. But we have to strive to maintain natural wealth and beauty of nature apart from traditions handed down by our elders," he adds.