The environment of Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai is actually infectious. It’s a time of pleasure and celebration as individuals 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 road bustles with vitality as individuals work on creating intricate ornament themes.
Lalbaug, particularly — residence to the long-lasting Lalbaugcha Raja, one of many metropolis’s largest Ganesha idols — attracts lakhs of tourists 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 discovered the artwork of portray and ornament — expertise 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, out there in 10 designs, are crafted from conventional sarees like Ilkal and Paithani.
In a time when comfort is vital, the complete setup might be assembled in below 5 minutes! This yr, Sandesh’s assortment has already offered out, with clients from all over the world.
Right here’s what units Sarvangi Arts aside.
Celebrating Maharashtrian heritage
With over 12 years of expertise as a industrial artist in an advert company, 38-year-old Sandesh now works as a design head in a company function. The thought 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 through 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 atmosphere.
“The ban highlighted the necessity for an eco-friendly different. There weren’t many choices available in the market then, and the out there alternate options, like decor with actual flowers, had been very costly. I stored fascinated by the totally different eco-friendly supplies that may very well be used,” Sandesh tells The Higher India.
The quintessential ‘aha’ second got here from an surprising 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 through the Maratha period caught his consideration, and an concept started to take form.
May he create decorations utilizing these conventional sarees that might not solely honour Maratha tradition but in addition assist shield the atmosphere?
The reply was a convincing sure.
So the artist went again to his roots to create beautiful makhar utilizing Paithani and Ilkal sarees. He purchased some sarees and used calligraphy to create stunning prints on them. He additionally unleashed his creativity to make a brand new design referred to 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 yr, he efficiently offered all 28 designs that he made.
“I could make 4 makhar utilizing one saree and I keep in mind doing it with seven sarees within the first yr. Getting offered out was heartening, and made me realise that there was a requirement for it,” he shares.
Celebrating consciously
Through the years, Sandesh rented a small area close to his residence in Kalwa, Thane, the place he showcases his merchandise yearly. With manufacturing beginning every year on June 5, Setting Day, he shares with a contact of pleasure that his complete assortment sells out properly earlier than Ganesh Chaturthi yearly!
“Earlier, individuals would go to Lalbaug or different areas bodily to purchase decorations. For the reason that COVID-19 pandemic hit, persons are buying on-line. We began delivering the decorations residence since inception, which gave us a bonus,” he provides.
Whereas the packaging was large initially, the artist has labored on making it small and compact, which permits him to ship internationally too. The USP, moreover being sustainable, is the truth that the decorations might be assembled in lower than 5 minutes!
“Similar to ready-to-cook meals, this can be a ready-to-install makhar. Its three standout options are its light-weight design, compact measurement, 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 straightforward packaging), a seat/ fabric for Ganesha, and the backdrop. The package deal weighs lower than 4 kg, which was designed conserving in thoughts worldwide delivery.
“I’ve had orders from the USA, Canada, Australia, and throughout the nation this yr. It’s simple 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, one among Sarvangi Arts’ first clients, says that what retains him coming again is the freshness of the designs and the distinctive idea.
“I look ahead to Sandesh’s new designs yearly. It’s made the complete 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 yr’s makhar to my kin in Nashik. We hold rotating the designs inside our household, which ensures they get reused!” says Shankar.
The artist emphasises that every one the supplies used might 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 might be given to the scrap supplier,” he informs.
Sarvangi Arts stays Sandesh’s ardour mission, 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, usually working till 11 or 12 pm every night time.
Dealing with the complete 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 yr, the Shahi Lakhota design was the bestseller, promoting out a month earlier than Ganesh Chaturthi. Wanting forward, he hopes to broaden into residence decor and introduce further pooja gadgets beginning subsequent yr.
“I would like individuals to have a good time consciously and take into account the environmental influence of their festivities. I hope that they reuse the decorations for so long as potential,” he says.
Edited by Pranita Bhat, Pictures Courtesy Sandesh Gaonkar
