When children aged seven to twelve spend their holidays on mobile phones, a group of ten children in Mitra Nagar are shaping devotion with their little hands. In a small lane in Mitra Nagar, the ‘Pratham Baal Ganesh Mandal’ has set a heart-warming example during this Ganeshotsav. Amidst all the grand Ganesha idols seen in the city, costing crores of rupees, this is a Ganesha idol made by children -- with their little hands, with clay, colour and pure faith -- not bought from the market.

 

The youngest volunteer is Asmi Aasatkar, just seven years old, while the eldest is only twelve. For the last fifteen days, after school hours, these children have been sitting together on a plastic sheet, kneading ‘shadu’ clay, giving shape to Bappa’s eyes, ears and crown. Aradhya Aasatkar, is the ‘murtikar’ of the group. He leads the idol-making. “We saw on YouTube that POP idols harm rivers. So we decided to make our own eco-friendly Ganesh ji” he said, his hands still covered in clay. Devansh Andraskar, is the President of Pratham Baal Ganesh Mandal. Along with him are Om Diwate, Tirth Randive, Adavi Amrutkar, Tejas Palandurkar, Pari Sonule, Sparsh Palandurkar, Atharva Dadve and little Asmi Aasatkar are volunteers. All have different roles - one brings clay, one makes colours from natural powder, another decorates the pandal with paper flowers.

 

Their parents said the initiative was entirely the children’s idea. No elders helped in making the idols. “They fought, they laughed, they failed, but they did not buy an idol. This is their Bappa”, said a proud parent. What makes the story special is not just the idol, but the thought behind it. At an age when festivals mean new clothes and big idols, these children have chosen devotion over display. During this Ganesh Chaturthi festive season, Mitra Nagar residents are gathering, not to see how big the idol is, but to see the dedication of these children.