In Gujarat, a unique group called the ‘Ganesh Vandana Parivar’ is creating Ganesh murtis (idols) in a special way. They use natural clay and colours made from different rocks. These materials are collected from various parts of India, like Kutch, Dwarka, and Kashmir. This group works from their homes in Manipur, Ahmedabad. What makes them different is that they don’t sell their murtis or give them away for free. Instead, they accept ‘dhan’ (offerings) in the form of grains, handmade artistic items, or ghee from desi cows. They believe this encourages people to move away from a materialistic lifestyle and connect more with nature and traditional ways of living.
Ashutosh Jani, an engineer and one of the core members, explained the idea behind this initiative. He and his wife, Sneha Jani, an architect, started this in 2016. Before starting, they travelled across India for three years, visiting remote villages to understand the country’s strengths and unique cultures. They wanted to learn from rural communities rather than just teach them. During their travels, they met their Guru, Shri Ravindra Sharmaji, who had started an organisation called Kala Ashram. He was a skilled craftsman and shared valuable insights about tribal and rural societies.
Inspired by their Guru, Ashutosh decided to live in a village in Gujarat for three years to learn how rural communities function. He saw his Guru making Ganesh murtis and giving them away. Following this, Ashutosh and his friends started ‘Ganesh Vandana’. It’s not a formal organisation but a group of passionate people working together for about two to three months every year to create murtis before Ganesh Chaturthi.
Ashutosh calls the art of making murtis a science. They prefer the term ‘murtis’ or ‘vigraha’ over ‘idols’ or ‘sculptures’ because they believe these forms have life and consecration. They use clay from rivers or ponds, typically collected in June or July, before the monsoon rains. This process is seen as beneficial for cleaning water bodies. The murtis are made from clay, and the colours are derived from natural rocks. These rocks are ground into a fine powder and mixed with natural glue, often from a Babool tree. The colours are rich in minerals and completely natural, with no market-bought materials used.
Some of the clay is sourced from Kashmir (white clay), Dehradun, and Kutch (yellow clay). Red stones come from Dwarka, and brown stones from Rajasthan. A small piece of stone can last for 8-10 years. The process of preparing the colours involves grinding the stones into a fine powder, sifting it, and then mixing it with natural glue.
Those who wish to receive a murti, called ‘Yajmaans’, must visit the Parivar personally with a ‘chawki’ (a wooden slab) on which the murti will be placed. This offering must be made before Raksha Bandhan. After this, the murtis are crafted for them. An annual function is held on September 17th, where each Yajmaan also takes on responsibilities, reinforcing the emphasis on a traditional way of life.
The concept of ‘visarjan’ (immersion of the murti) is also important. It is done after the rains stop, usually in late September or October. They believe immersing the clay murtis in natural water bodies, not artificial ponds, enriches the riverbeds. This act symbolises giving back the clay borrowed from the Earth once its purpose is served.