Mumbaikars are all set to welcome Ganpati Bappa, even if it pinches their pocket a little more this year. Markandey Singh’s family has been celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi at their home since 1996. Last year, a 2-foot tall idol cost them Rs 2,100, this year however, the price has gone up to Rs 2,400.
With the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax this July, key materials used to mould Ganesh idols like Plaster of Paris, Paints and Varnishes have become more expensive. Plaster of Paris was earlier charged 13.5 percent tax, now a GST of 18 percent has been levied on it. Paints and varnishes, earlier charged 13.5 percent tax, but will now attract 28 percent GST. This isn’t the only area that will be seeing a hike in prices.
While those celebrating the festival on a small scale at their homes are less likely to feel the pinch, bigger Mandals across Mumbai however, have a different story to tell.
Ganesh Gully, one of the most famous Mandals at Lalbaug, has been around since 1927. This year, they have had to shell out an additional Rs 20-25 lakh. With total costs including the idol and decorations going up to Rs 1 crore. But compromising on the grandiosity of the celebration is not an option for the trustees.
While bigger Mandals cannot compromise on the scale of celebrations, smaller ones are left with no choice. The 60-year-old Vinayak Sadan Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal at Mumbai’s Lower Parel has an annual budget of about Rs 3.5 lakh but this year their budget is stretched by at least Rs 50,000. Since they don’t have a GST number, they are not even eligible to claim the input tax credit for the additional expenses incurred.
Idol-makers stationed at a workshop in Parel are adding finishing touches to about 1,000 idols that have already been booked. Raju Shinde, an idol-maker, says though prices of raw materials have increased, there has been no impact on the number of idols being bought by devotees.
With clay idols exempted from GST, does this mean we are likely to see more eco-friendly Ganeshas? Quite likely, says 59-year-old idol-maker Prakash Pednekar. Out of the 300 orders he has received this year, over 100 are for idols made of clay. This is almost double in comparison to last year. But due to time constraints and higher cost, many idol makers shy away from focusing solely on making clay idols.
“It takes a lot of time to make clay idols. You can make about four Plaster of Paris idols in a day but you will take at least three days to making one clay idol. While a two-foot Plaster of Paris idol will cost you about Rs 3,000, the same sized clay idol will cost you about Rs 5,000” said Prakash Pednekar.
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