14-year-old makes idol from paper

Standing tall at 22-foot, the eco-friendly structure cost Vikrant Salaskar Rs 3,200

At Chunabhatti, people are abuzz about Chunabhatticha Maharaj, a Ganesh deity. However, unlike other idols across the city, this one stands out not because it stands at 22 feet but because it is made out of paper and bamboo.

The idol was the brainchild of 14-year-old Vikrant Salaskar and the entire idol cost the teen Rs 3,200. A student of Our Lady of Good Council School in Sion, the Std IX student was always interested in drawing.


Vikrant Salaskar and his 20 other friends used paper
and bamboo poles to make an eco-friendly Ganpati idol

After being sent to a workshop by his father Bhupen Salaskar to see how idols were made, he took it upon himself to make one of his own.

Asked why he chose paper and bamboo for the feat, Vikrant said, "In school, we were always explained the dangers of using Plaster of Paris idols and the harm it does to the environment. So, inspired by what I saw in the workshop, I started making an idol from paper and bamboo."

Soon, his idol started generating a buzz and his friends started to help him in the process. "In next to no time, 20 friends started helping me in making the idol," he added.

Akshay Thakur, Vikrant's friend, said, "We started working on the idol top down, first with the crown. The idol is separate from the lotus that it sits on and the elephant head is another piece. We worked on the entire structure night and day and even after school and college."

Elaborating further on the work put in to complete the idol, Siddhesh Patil, another friend, said, "It was fun to work together, putting paper together and sticking all of it with 30 bottles of glue.

Painting the entire thing was the most fun and all colour used in the idol was eco-friendly. We put the pieces together by Monday morning in 15 minutes with the help of bamboo poles."

Standing tall in the area, the idol has attracted throngs of people and already 1,000 people have come to catch a glimpse of the deity. And enjoying the fame from the first idol, Vikrant is already looking towards his next idol next year, which he has started planning and ideating.

"My next idol will have a unique concept. "I want to have a snake theme and make the Ganpati sit on snakes. I have it all thought of in my mind already. We will keep this Ganpati for 10 days and then immerse it in a tub," said Vikrant of his future plans.

Meanwhile, the mandal expects large crowds after the sthapna, which is scheduled for 7:30 am this morning.

30
Number of bottles of glue that was required to put together the entire idol