The environment of Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai is actually infectious. It’s a time of pleasure and celebration as folks welcome Ganapati Bappa into their houses, an expertise that have to be lived to be totally appreciated.
The weeks and months main as much as the competition are a whirlwind of exercise for mandals, devotees, decorators, and everybody concerned in welcoming the beloved elephant-headed god. Each avenue bustles with power as folks work on creating intricate ornament themes.
Lalbaug, particularly — house to the long-lasting Lalbaugcha Raja, one of many metropolis’s largest Ganesha idols — attracts lakhs of holiday makers and is actually a sight to behold.
For Sandesh Shankar Gaonkar, who grew up on this vibrant neighbourhood, the competition has been a defining a part of his life. Spending a lot of his childhood at Ganapati mandals and amongst idol and decor artisans, Sandesh realized the artwork of portray and ornament — abilities that formed him into who he’s at the moment.
“I learnt my kala (artwork) there,” he says. It ignited the artist inside him, setting him on the trail to pursue a profession within the arts.
It’s no shock that Sandesh launched Thane-based ‘Sarvangi Arts’ — a ornament enterprise specialising in eco-friendly, reusable makhars (decorations) for Ganesha. For the previous seven years, his creations have honoured Maharashtrian heritage whereas selling sustainability. His makhar decorations, accessible in 10 designs, are crafted from conventional sarees like Ilkal and Paithani.
In a time when comfort is essential, all the setup will be assembled in beneath 5 minutes! This 12 months, Sandesh’s assortment has already offered out, with clients from world wide.
Right here’s what units Sarvangi Arts aside.
Celebrating Maharashtrian heritage
With over 12 years of expertise as a business artist in an advert company, 38-year-old Sandesh now works as a design head in a company position. The concept for his enterprise took root about seven years in the past when the Maharashtra Authorities banned single-use plastic and thermocol.
Thermocol decorations, broadly utilized in pandals in the course of the 10-day competition, sparked a public outcry as they contribute to environmental air pollution, clogging water our bodies and endangering marine life. Whereas many lamented the influence on their livelihood, Sandesh started exploring eco-friendly alternate options that might keep away from harming the setting.
“The ban highlighted the necessity for an eco-friendly different. There weren’t many choices available in the market then, and the accessible alternate options, like decor with actual flowers, had been very costly. I saved fascinated about the totally different eco-friendly supplies that could possibly be used,” Sandesh tells The Higher India.
The quintessential ‘aha’ second got here from an sudden supply — a TV serial. Whereas watching Swarajyarakshak Sambhaji, a present about Sambhaji, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Sandesh was struck by inspiration. The colourful, vibrant sarees worn by the ladies in the course of the Maratha period caught his consideration, and an thought started to take form.
May he create decorations utilizing these conventional sarees that might not solely honour Maratha tradition but in addition assist defend the setting?
The reply was a convincing sure.
So the artist went again to his roots to create gorgeous makhar utilizing Paithani and Ilkal sarees. He purchased some sarees and used calligraphy to create lovely prints on them. He additionally unleashed his creativity to make a brand new design known as the Paithani Pankha, whereby he created a backdrop utilizing the Paithani saree, formed like a circle.
Making this out of his home within the first 12 months, he efficiently offered all 28 designs that he made.
“I could make 4 makhar utilizing one saree and I bear in mind doing it with seven sarees within the first 12 months. Getting offered out was heartening, and made me realise that there was a requirement for it,” he shares.
Celebrating consciously
Over time, Sandesh rented a small house close to his house in Kalwa, Thane, the place he showcases his merchandise yearly. With manufacturing beginning annually on June 5, Surroundings Day, he shares with a contact of delight that his complete assortment sells out properly earlier than Ganesh Chaturthi yearly!
“Earlier, folks would go to Lalbaug or different areas bodily to purchase decorations. For the reason that COVID-19 pandemic hit, individuals are buying on-line. We began delivering the decorations house since inception, which gave us a bonus,” he provides.
Whereas the packaging was enormous initially, the artist has labored on making it small and compact, which permits him to ship internationally too. The USP, in addition to being sustainable, is the truth that the decorations will be assembled in lower than 5 minutes!
“Similar to ready-to-cook meals, it is a ready-to-install makhar. Its three standout options are its light-weight design, compact dimension, and ease of set up — it may be arrange in simply 5 minutes,” he reiterates.
Every package deal incorporates a stand, an umbrella, two inflatable pillows (for simple packaging), a seat/ fabric for Ganesha, and the backdrop. The package deal weighs lower than 4 kg, which was designed holding in thoughts worldwide transport.
“I’ve had orders from the USA, Canada, Australia, and throughout the nation this 12 months. It’s straightforward to put in and can be utilized for a few years. I’ve had clients who simply take a unique backdrop after three years, retaining the opposite decorations,” provides Sandesh.
Shankar Sawant, considered one of Sarvangi Arts’ first clients, says that what retains him coming again is the freshness of the designs and the distinctive idea.
“I stay up for Sandesh’s new designs yearly. It’s made all the ornament course of so easy. I don’t have to fret about it in any respect and may begin it simply on the morning of Ganesh Chaturthi. I gave final 12 months’s makhar to my family in Nashik. We maintain rotating the designs inside our household, which ensures they get reused!” says Shankar.
The artist emphasises that every one the supplies used will be reused, from the sarees to the steel pipes, that are recyclable. He firmly believes that none of it is going to find yourself in landfills. “The paper and steel used will be given to the scrap supplier,” he informs.
Sarvangi Arts stays Sandesh’s ardour venture, whilst he continues his full-time job. Within the months main as much as the competition, he dedicates his evenings and weekends to the enterprise, typically working till 11 or 12 pm every night time.
Dealing with all the manufacturing course of himself, Sandesh has additionally secured a design patent for his Paithani Pankha design. He hopes to capitalise on this patent within the coming years by scaling up manufacturing for mass manufacturing.
Presently, Sandesh provides 10 designs at three worth factors: Rs 3,200, Rs 4,100, and Rs 5,000. This 12 months, the Shahi Lakhota design was the bestseller, promoting out a month earlier than Ganesh Chaturthi. Wanting forward, he hopes to develop into house decor and introduce extra pooja objects beginning subsequent 12 months.
“I would like folks to rejoice consciously and think about the environmental influence of their festivities. I hope that they reuse the decorations for so long as attainable,” he says.
Edited by Pranita Bhat, Pictures Courtesy Sandesh Gaonkar
