Heavy monsoon rains in Maharashtra’s Raigad district have destroyed thousands of Ganesh idols and damaged around 3,000 workshops just weeks before Ganesh Chaturthi, wiping out months of production for many artisans. Industry groups estimate roughly one million idols were damaged, threatening seasonal income for about 150,000 people. Local authorities are surveying losses and financial aid will follow, but many makers face steep losses, inadequate insurance and likely delays to domestic and international orders.
Floods Wipe Out Months of Work for Raigad’s Ganesh Idol Makers Ahead of Festival
Over 300,000 idols have been damaged in the devastating rains [Shardul Kadam]
Standing amid the shattered remains of hundreds of clay figures in his Raigad workshop, sculptor Dilip Mhatre fights to keep his composure. With Ganesh Chaturthi — one of India’s largest religious festivals celebrating the elephant‑headed god Ganesha — just weeks away, floods have destroyed roughly six months of his labour.
The 40‑year‑old had completed about 500 clay idols valued at around 800,000 rupees (≈ $8,300; £6,200). He now estimates his total losses at about 1.2 million rupees after the deluge washed away finished figures, moulds and raw materials.
For many sculptors, including Mahendra Patil, idol-making is their sole source of income [Shardul Kadam]
Scale Of The Damage
Raigad is a major centre for Ganesh idol production. An estimated 20,000 workshops in the district produce up to eight million idols a year, provide seasonal work for roughly 150,000 people and generate about 3.5 billion rupees in annual sales. This year, heavy rains damaged thousands of idols and affected some 3,000 workshops, industry representatives say.
"Around a million Ganesh idols were damaged by heavy rains across the district," says Sachin Patil, president of the Ganesh Murtikar Utkarsh Mandal.
What Happened
Between 5 and 7 July, Raigad recorded more than 548mm (21.6in) of rain — nearly approaching the 663mm recorded for all of July last year — according to India's weather department. Rivers and drains were overwhelmed and floodwaters rose several feet, breaching the usual protections workshops use, such as raised platforms and plastic sheeting.
Most idols damaged in the rains cannot be sold [Shardul Kadam]
Many artisans lost not only finished idols but also moulds, clay and plaster of Paris, which are essential to restarting production. Crafting even a small idol is labour‑intensive — involving moulding, casting, sculpting, drying and painting — and can take up to two weeks.
Livelihoods And Recovery
Idol‑making supports entire households. Mhatre says the craft has been his family’s only source of income for three decades. Now he has begun informing clients he cannot fulfil orders and plans to take a loan and refund advances where necessary.
Dilip Mhatre lost all his work in the floods triggered by heavy rainfall [Shardul Kadam]
Some workshop owners had insurance, but payouts are often tiny compared with the damage. "If the actual loss is 1 million rupees, the insurance payout may be only around 10,000 rupees," says Anita Patil of Kalve village, citing restrictive policy conditions and complex claims processes.
Local authorities have started surveying the damage. Government official Tanaji Shejal told BBC Marathi that financial assistance will be provided under government rules once assessments are complete.
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with pomp and fervour across Maharashtra [Hindustan Times via Getty Images]
Wider Impact And Adaptation
The disruption may ripple beyond Raigad: some international and domestic orders are likely to be delayed or rerouted to other regions. Sculptors say international demand had already slowed due to the global economy, and the floods will further strain delivery schedules.
Artisans are now rethinking flood preparations — installing permanent plastic roofing, building raised platforms and stronger barriers, or moving work to higher ground — but such changes take time and money.
For now, workshops are drying and repairing salvageable idols, clearing debris and attempting to save what remains of a season many feared was lost. Few expect a rapid financial recovery, but most insist they will not abandon a craft that has sustained their families for generations.
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