With Ganeshotsav just a month away, Mumbai is once again gearing up for one of its biggest festivals, but along with the celebrations comes a familiar debate. The push for eco-friendly Ganpati idols continues, while idol makers are still grappling with the cost of alternatives and the lack of space to make and store them in the city. For many, it is a difficult balance between doing what is better for the environment and what is actually practical.
Mumbai’s PoP Debate Returns Ahead Of Ganpati
According to the Times of India, workshops in King Circle are proving that even massive Ganpati idols can be made using shadu clay, despite the long-standing belief that idols of this size are difficult to create without plaster of Paris (PoP). At GSB Seva Mandal, artisans have been handcrafting large clay idols for more than seven decades, quietly challenging that assumption.
However, PoP continues to be widely used across Mumbai’s idol-making workshops. The Bombay High Court is once again hearing the state government’s plea to allow the use of PoP for idols taller than six feet that are immersed in natural water bodies. Court directions on phasing out PoP idols date back to 2013.
While several big pandals have embraced clay for their massive murtis, many commercial workshops across the city say the bigger challenge is not the technique itself, but having enough time and space to make and store these large idols.
Environment Vs Cost And Space
TOI added that PoP is preferred by many idol makers because it sets within hours and dries completely in just two to three days. Shadu clay, on the other hand, can take up to 15–20 days to dry, especially in Mumbai’s humid weather. This longer drying time makes the entire process more demanding, with artisans having to shift, rotate and support a single clay idol as many as 25 to 40 times while it dries.
That also means workshops need considerably more space, something that is already a major challenge in Mumbai. For many idol makers, finding enough workspace has become one of the biggest hurdles in switching to clay.
As per Municipal data, Mumbai had 298 artificial immersion sites in 2025, with 98% of smaller household idols immersed at these locations. Despite this, PoP idols continued to account for 61% of all idols immersed in the city that year.
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Let us know your thoughts on this in the comments.
Cover Image Courtesy: YouTube/Garuda Works (representative image)
FAQs
Why is PoP commonly used to make Ganpati idols?
PoP sets quickly and can dry completely within two to three days, making it easier for idol makers to produce large numbers of idols in limited space and time.
Why does making clay Ganpati idols require more space?
Clay idols need to be shifted, rotated and supported several times as they dry. A single idol may need to be moved 25–40 times, requiring more workshop space.
Are PoP Ganesha idols still widely used in Mumbai?
Yes, despite the push for eco-friendly alternatives, 61% of all idols immersed in Mumbai in 2025 were made of PoP, according to municipal data.
