Why use clay?
Idols made out of natural clay decompose within a day or two as compared to other materials. The paint used for making idol was eco-friendly non – toxic paint. That means after Ganesh Chaturthi festival, Ganeshji idol was submerged in a bucket and when everything was dissolved, that same water was used to water houseplants.
How to make Ganeshji Idol at home for Ganesh Chaturthi
- Smooth out the dough and make 3 big balls, 2 medium balls, and 5 small balls. Size depending on how big you want your idol to be. 3 large balls will be used for base, body, and head. 2 medium-sized balls will be reduced further in size to make eyes, tusks and other stuff. 5 small balls will be used to make ears and head crown.
- Flatten out one ball and place the other big ball over the flatten one. This will form the base.
- Make 4 long rolls. They will form 2 legs, arm, and a trunk.
- As shown in the picture below use 2 long rolls to make legs. Roll them out and flatten their ends outwards.
- Use another long roll to wrap around the body and make it look like hands. Roll the dough upwards and flatten it – hands in blessing mode. Use some dough to make a ladoo in another hand.
- Place the 3rd big ball over the body – that’s the head. keep working with the clay and smooth it out.
- Use the final long roll to make the trunk. Press the trunk on the top and flatten it. Make it pointy at the end. Curve it the way you want. Use 2 small balls to make ears.
- Press and flatten out the ears. Use the other 3 small balls to make the head crown. Use the 2 medium size ball to make eyes, tusks, tilak, Janeu, extra ladoos and head decor.
- Use a toothpick to make some marks on the idol.
- Idol is complete. Let’s begin with the fun part. Paint the idol.
- Use your imagination and decorate your idol.
- My Ganeshji is ready.
- On Visarjan day, we had a bucket filled with water.
- And placed Ganeshji in that water. The idol dissolved in water in two days and that water was used to water our house plants. This is our way of doing Visarjan.
