All roads lead to Kosapet

With intense competition from elsewhere, artisans in this locality are keen on upskilling exercises

It is the Sunday immediately before the festival; huge multi-coloured Ganeshas greet shoppers on the streets of Kosapet. The air is electric as artisans transform the busy lanes into a vivid canvas of creativity. Each stall brims with Ganesha idols made from mud and paper, presenting an array of imaginative interpretations of the beloved deity. There are shoppers bargaining hard to get the best price, and rickshaws ferrying idols wrapped in plastic covers through the narrow lanes.

It is common knowledge that Kosapet, the city’s clay doll capital, receives considerable footfall during festival time. The making of clay dolls begins in late January and around May, it is about painting them in vivid colours.

Sales start during Krishna Janmashtami and continue through Christmas. Ganesh Chaturthi and Golu idols decked up at homes for Dussehra make up their biggest sales.

For 27 years, artisan Selvarani P. and her children have built a life around making and selling clay dolls for different occasions. Their home is a showcase of Golu dolls, each with its own story told through size and design. As Selvarani shapes each clay Ganesha idol, she says that life has not always been easy for the family.

“The reputation I have earned comes from hard work. As a woman in a field dominated by men, I faced many challenges, but I stood firm and worked hard to overcome these obstacles,” says Selvarani.

The artisan says she has many loyal customers who come to her every year to select dolls crafted by her; some are sent abroad.

Finding mud and clay