Khairatabad Ganesh idol: 69-foot eco-friendly Panchamukha Ganapati taking shape

More than 150 artisans from four States are crafting a 69-foot eco-friendly Panchamukha Sankatahara Maha Ganapati idol at Khairatabad. The idol uses 30 tonnes of river clay, 20 tonnes of sand, steel and paddy straw and will be ready by September 12

Hyderabad: More than 150 artisans from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu are working on a 69-foot-tall, eco-friendly Panchamukha Sankatahara Maha Ganapati idol at Khairatabad for the coming Vinayuaka Chaturthi festivities.

Khairatabad Ganesh Utsava Committee Convener G Sandeep Raj said the idol is being made entirely from eco-friendly materials using 30 tonnes of natural river clay transported from Rajasthan. “The water-soluble clay, sourced mainly from Banas river banks near Nathdwara, is blended with 20 tonnes of locally available sand from Hyderabad to make a paste,” he said.

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Odisha-based clay idol specialist Joga Rao, who is leading the sculpting, said the clay’s smooth texture allows artisans to shape Lord Ganesha’s trunk, ears and crown without extensive filtering. Rao has worked with the committee for five years and helped produce its tallest idol.

More than 25 tonnes of steel, including mesh sourced from Secunderabad, form the standing idol, which has five heads, six hands and a trunk, and is blessed by a five-headed serpent.

Over 70 bundles of dried paddy straw from Yadadri district were layered over the metal mesh to strengthen the structure for transportation to Hussain Sagar Lake, Sandeep said.

More than 25 painters worked around the clock for three days, using water-based and organic colours to complete the idol.

The Panchamukha Sankatahara Maha Ganapati idol will be ready to open to the general public by September 12, an Utsava Committee member said.

Khairatabad Ganesh Idol:

• 69 feet in height
• 30 tonnes of natural river clay from Rajasthan
• 20 tonnes of locally available sand
• 25 tonnes of steel
• 70 bundles of dried paddy straw
• Water based and organic colours for finish
• Idol to be ready by September 12