Bright colours and splendid electronic deco is used not only in the Sarvajaneek Ganesh Mandals in Goa but in households too. Unlike Maharashtra, Goan households spend lavishly on the mandaps, with the youth putting in their best artistic skills. By A Special Correspondent.

AS THE COUNTDOWN to Ganesh Chaturthi begins, the young and old in Goa get busier making preparations for the arrival of their favourite, Lord Ganesh. The preparation is not all about making sweets and stitching or purchasing new garments for the festivity - but exploring new ideas for creating scenes depicting mythological events complimented with fine decorations.

Marshal, Cumburjua, Siolim, Revora, Advavpal and some parts of Canacona are well-known for having amazing decorations and lively mythological scenes. Historically Ganesh celebrations in these villages have always been marked with characters reflecting mythological incidents - with idols made of clay.

In the last few years there has been a lot of experimentation. The use of plaster of Paris and metal is largely used depending on the nature of the scene - whereas decorations are incomplete without thermocole. Electronic tricks are used to make the decoration look brighter and lively. Youth are at the forefront deciding a possible topic for the scene and the type of decorations that will create a lasting impression on the people. There is a growing tendency to do better than the previous year. Surprisingly, otherwise busy, young people do not mind spending hours together sharpening their artistic skills to evolve a decor to make their Ganesh look unique.

Though decorations made with paper, thermocole and metal are available in the market, for youth and particularly in the villages, preparing their own unique decorations is still a priority.

Sandeep Chodankar from Revora will not be seen hanging around with friends at the Village nako the fortnight before Gahesh Chaturti, for his days and nights are occupied carving a beautiful design on thermocole. He specialises in carving monumental designs. The thermocole carvings of a temple or a palace are stationed where Ganesh is installed — making it look as if Ganesh is installed in a temple or a palace.

Interestingly, Sandeep has mastered thermocole carving without undergoing any formal training. He learned thermocole carving and drawing designs by merely observing other people. Carving difficult designs has become his forte. Moreover he always attempts something new, taking a cue from classical architectural works and blending them with his own imagination.

Apparently his deco work is so appreciated in his village that he is often called by his friends and neighbours to help them out with their decos.

The same holds true for Tarun studying Fine Arts. He takes special interest in making Ganesh decos as well as scenes representing mythological events. What started as a hobby during his childhood has now turned into a profession. “As a child I used to try my hand at Ganesh decorations which later developed into a hobby. Today I earn my pocket money doing decos,” says Tarun.

Interestingly, decos do not come cheap – people spend anything between Rs 1000 to Rs 10,000 on decorations itself. Here we are not talking about decorations in Sarvajaneek Ganesh celebration but those that are seen in houses in Goa during Ganesh Chaturthi. People often import material required for decorations from Mumbai for it is not locally available. Most of the inputs that goes into the making of fantastic decorations are bought from Mumbai and Belgaum even when some things are available here. Artists make purchases outside Goa because of variety in material there and, secondly, due to the price factor. “Not only that. Material is comparatively cheaper in Mumbai and you get ample choice which is hardly available in Goa,” according to one artist from Marshala.

In fact, to some, having special decorations is a matter of pride and hence do not mind loosening their purse strings to get special decorations done. Nevertheless, few consider it a waste of money and put up the usual decorations that marked Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Goa for ages.

It is only in the last few years that people have been indulging in pompous decoration inspired by the Sarvajaneek Ganesh celebrations in Maharashtra. The artistic presentation of mythological scenes was always a part of the Ganesh festivity here. However in the last few years, the use of thermocole decorations, supplemented with electrical gadgets, is predominantly found. Even the mythological scenes presented are no longer more passive - various tricks are used to show movements and characters in motion.

Says Avinash Naik, “People should a draw line somewhere in spending on decoration. Obviously artistic people will always like to make their Ganesh celebrations unique. But what is worrying is that people have been indulging in unnecessary expenditure on decorations by consuming undue electricity. There have been instances in the past of fire breakouts due to short circuits and other reasons during the celebrations.”

Some of the Sarvajaneek Ganesh Mandal committees in the state are of the opinion that celebration of the Ganesh festival should not be pompous and also expenditure on decos and creation of mythological events should be limited. Shri Ganesh Prathishtan Mandal in Vasco and Pimpalkatta Ganesh Mandals are cautious not to waste their funds on unnecessary decos.

An artist who does not wish to be named said it’s a craze among people as well as Ganesh mandals to outsmart one another by trying to have great decorations and do not mind spending thousands of rupees. The money spent on decos could be easily used for some constructive purpose. Again unwarranted use of electricity for decorations could be reduced if such decorations are created that utilise less electricity, he opined.

Going by the mood of the people in the state and the number of decorative items for Ganesh celebrations displayed in the markets, it is quite clear where people’s choice lies. Goans are well-known for their artistic bend of mind. It is an important factor responsible for forcing people to indulge in having expensive decorations. In Maharashtra and elsewhere splendid decos are presented only in Sarvajaneek Ganseh utsavs, but in Goa, at every village house you get to see something new. And that’s the difference between Ganesh in Maharashtra and Ganesh in Goa.

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