In the narrow lanes of Pen, Maharashtra, the air is thick with the scent of paint, clay, and devotion. This quiet town, about 75 km southeast Mumbai, transforms into a booming hub every year ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi, as thousands of artisans breathe life into Ganesha idols. With over 350 workshops and nearly 2.5 lakh idols crafted annually, many destined for homes and mandals in India and in the US, UK, and even Bangkok, Pen is widely regarded as India’s Ganpati idol capital.

Sculptor Sagar Pawar poses with the idols his factory will ship to the US and UK this season

For generations, families in this town of 30,000 have built a cottage industry around the festival, combining traditional techniques with evolving practices like eco-friendly materials. Sagar Pawar, sculptor, says his factory makes around 25,000 idols every year, many of which are sent abroad. “This year we have sent them to the US and London,” he said.