Crafting Ganesh, Preserving Heritage: Indore Family Keeps 200-Year-Old Eco-Friendly Idol Tradition Alive
Indore (Madhya Pradesh): As Ganesh Chaturthi approaches, the Khargonkar family of Indore is keeping alive a more than 200-year-old tradition of crafting traditional Ganesha idols dating back to the era of Ahilyabai Holkar. Sixth-generation artisan and retired bank employee Shyam Khargonkar said the family has served the Holkar royal court for generations, making clay idols that were traditionally…
As Ganesh Chaturthi approaches, the Khargonkar family in Indore is preserving a tradition spanning over 200 years. Shyam Khargonkar, a sixth-generation artisan and retired bank employee, shared that the family has been creating traditional Ganesha idols since the era of Ahilyabai Holkar. For generations, they have been supplying clay idols to the Holkar royal court, which were traditionally installed at Rajwada Palace and other royal locations.
Crafting each idol requires nearly four months of meticulous work, with the entire extended family, including daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren, contributing to the creation process. The Khargonkars exclusively use natural yellow clay, avoiding plaster of Paris, ensuring their idols are fully eco-friendly and can be immersed in household buckets.
The family only makes the idols on pre-order, with many customers being part of the long-standing association with the Khargonkar family across generations.
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