Ganesh Chaturthi special | From Chinchpokli to Khetwadi, Mumbai's Bappa themes revealed

Itrsquos that time of the year again when the chants of lsquoGanpati Bappa Moryarsquo echo through the streets of Mumbai as the towering idols of the beloved elephantheaded deity of wisdom and prosperity arrive across the city starting August 27Preparation of Ganesh idols at Parel Railway Workshop in Mumbai PIC ANUSHREE GAIKWADThe 10day Ganesh Chaturthi festival may be a global celebration but in Mumbai its an emotion As the devotees are eager to know this yearrsquos Ganesh Chaturthi themes all eyes are on the artisans shaping Mumbairsquos most beloved idols Just days before the festivities begin middaycom speaks to Siddhesh Dighole the creative force behind some of the citys most admired BappasRevealing this yearrsquos themes he shares that Chinchpokli Cha Chintamani will be based on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj featuring a throne that reflects the grandeur of royal Maratha aesthetics At Chandanwadi the idol will take the divine form of Lord Vitthal In Khetwadi the seventh lane will welcome Bappa in the avatar of Lord Venkateshwar while the sixth lane idol draws inspiration from Tirupati Balaji The second and third lanes will feature Lord Ganesha in the form of Lord ShankarA student of legendary sculptor Vijay Khatu the 32yearold artist behind Mumbairsquos iconic idols such as the 26foottall Khetwadi Ganpati and Chinchpoklirsquos Chintamani reveals the creative process themes and challenges of crafting these grand idols ldquoI put my heart and soul into each idol Creating Ganpati idols is not a seasonal business itrsquos a yearlong devotion Throughout the year I keep sketching different avatars of Ganpati Bappa I visualise my ideas design them on paper and plan each idol meticulously Every idol I create is not just a sculpture but a storytelling piecerdquo he says His personal favourites from his creation remain the Chinchpokli Cha Chintamani Chandanwadi Cha Raja and Kalachowki Cha MahaganpatiSiddesh Dighole PIC SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTA graduate in Computer Science from Mumbairsquos Ruparel College Siddhesh is the sole proprietor of Kalagandh Arts and has been creating Ganpati idols for over 17 years His journey began at the age of 13 when he started working at a Ganpati workshop in Borivali where he had the fortune of learning from the legendary Vijay Khatu From 2010 to 2020 he worked under Khatursquos guidance before finally establishing his own studio in 2023 He also employs a team of skilled workers who earn between Rs 800 to Rs 3000 per day depending on their roleSiddhesh crafts idols that quite literally stand tall among them Chandanwadi Cha Raja at 25 feet Kalachowki Mahaganpati at 23 feet Chinchpokli Cha Chintamani at 21ndash22 feet Khetwadi 7th Lane Ganpati at 26 feet the tallest and Khetwadi 6th Lane Ganpati at 22ndash23 feet He has also created elaborate idols for Hyderabadrsquos Hanuman Sena Mandal and Suratrsquos Aradhya Raj Ganesh Utsav some of his most expensive works costing around Rs 8ndash9 lakhAccording to Dighole ldquoEach Ganpati mandal has its own charm and identity For instance Chandanwadi is known for its changing themes while the 13 lanes of Khetwadi are known for their friendly yet fierce idolmaking competitionrdquoAn artist paints an idol at Parel Railway Workshop in Mumbai PIC ANUSHREE GAIKWADBeyond Ganpati idols Siddhesh also crafts around 70 Devi idols each year during Navratri including Mumbai Chi Mauli as well as the goddesses from Sakinaka Kolhapur and NandedIn recent years Siddhesh has also encouraged sustainable practices offering recyclable small POP pooja idols to promote environmental awarenessHowever the work comes with its own set of challenges The biggest hurdle Space and time ldquoWersquore allotted a limited time at the Parel railway workshop in Mumbai usually from June to Dussehra and within this short window we have to complete a large number of idolsrdquo he explainsSiddhesh acknowledges the help he receives from the civic body ldquoThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation supports us well by inspecting water tanks and ensuring hygiene at the workshop The Mumbai Police also provide strong logistical support during the entire processrdquo he saysFrom a threeyearold fascinated by the beauty of Ganpati Bappa to a celebrated sculptor shaping Mumbairsquos festive skyline his story is one of passion perseverance and pure devotion As Mumbai gears up to welcome Bappa once again itrsquos artists like him who make the magic come alive