Ganesh idols become expensive in Mumbai

India

oi-Deepika S

Mumbai,
Aug
26:
Preparations
are
on
in
full
swing
in
Mumbai
which
is
set
to
celebrate
the
Ganapati
festival
with
all
its
glory
after
two
years.
However,
devotees
will
have
to
shell
out
extra
money
for
their
beloved
deity
Ganesha
this
year.

While
making
an
idol,
various
raw
materials
are
used
and
the
cost
of
these
very
items
has
increased
due
to
GST,
hence
idols
will
cost
more.

The
idol
makers
claim
the
city
to
have
been
hit
by
inflation
and
the
recent
GST
imposition.

“After
two
years
Ganesh
Utsav
is
being
celebrated.
This
time
there’re
no
restrictions.
The
price
of
idols
has
increased
due
to
a
hike
in
prices
of
Plaster
of
Paris
(PoP),”
a
seller
told
ANI.

“After
COVID,
many
of
our
labourers
went
back,
so
due
to
labour
shortage,
we
have
to
pay
higher
wages
to
the
labours.
Due
to
inflation
and
the
GST
imposed
by
the
government,
the
prices
of
raw
materials
have
also
risen.
It
has
increased
our
production
costs
by
around
40
to
50
percent.
Overall,
it
has
led
to
a
rise
in
the
price
of
the
Ganesha
idols
by
around
20
percent,”
the
idol
maker
said.

Maharashtra,
known
for
its
grand
Ganesh
Chaturthi
celebrations
decided
not
to
impose
any
restrictions
on
the
Ganesh
Chaturthi
celebrations
starting
August
31.

The
celebrations
were
marred
by
restrictions
necessitated
by
the
Covid
pandemic.