Traditional sculptor S. Periyasami giving finishing touches to idols of Lord Ganesh made with tapioca flour at Nangamangalam Chathiram village near Samayapuram.
| Photo Credit: NAHLA NAINAR
Idols made with eco-friendly material are becoming popular in Tiruchi ahead of Vinayaka Chaturthi.Traditional sculptor S. Periyasami has been crafting what is known as the grand ‘Bombay model’ of processional Ganesh idols for decades. Working from his home-based workshop at Nangamangalam Chathiram village near Samayapuram, with his family members and some hired help, he has created at least 60 large scale idols that range in size from 3 feet to 10 feet this year. All of them use tapioca flour kneaded and set in die-cast moulds. The different parts are held together with the help of sticks and natural adhesive pastes.Prices range upwards of ₹3,000 per foot with the largest statue being priced ₹30,000.Mr. Periyasami, 62, is a fifth generation sculptor, who has seen customers demand a change from clay and plaster of Paris (PoP) to more environmentally sound alternatives for the idols, especially for those created for immersion rituals in waterbodies.“In my father’s time, clay idols were preferred, though they could break easily during transport. Now, I work with tapioca flour and paper paste to create the same sculptures. They are lighter, and less prone to damage. But we have to store the idols in dry conditions, because the flour base dissolves in no time when it rains,” Mr. Periyasami told The Hindu on Monday.Working from early January, Vinayaka idol makers need to be ready at least a month before the festival. “This year, we have created at least 60 large idols, but the demand seems to have gone down. People cannot afford these idols as the prices have increased over the years. We cannot give too many discounts, because the cost of our raw materials has also gone up. With just two weeks left to the festival, we hope business will pick up soon,” said Mr. Periyasami.Returning to rootsMany organisations in the city are promoting ‘do-it-yourself’ idol making programmes for families and children, using a mixture of seeds and clay. The heritage learning centre Abhyasam, for example, will be holding its sixth annual ‘Make Your Own Ganesh’ workshop in offline and online mode in mid-September.The activity provides clay and seeds to participants, who are then taught how to sculpt their idol in small earthen pots. No paints are used.“Our aim is to make participants learn the deeper meaning behind our rituals; so when we immerse idols of Lord Ganesha, we must ensure that we enrich the environment instead of polluting it. Our kits come with vegetable seeds that grow quickly. Participants can either immerse their idol or let it grow out as a plant,” said events executive J. Prassanth. Published - August 31, 2026 09:27 pm IST
