Ganesh Chaturthi: Behind Mumbai’s 22-ft eco-friendly Raja Tejukayacha

The final countdown for Mumbairsquos favourite festival has begun With only six days to go for Ganesh Chaturthi the streets of Lalbaug ndash home to some of the citys most iconic idols ndash are already abuzz with the festivitiesOne such celebrated idol is the Raja Tejukayacha renowned for its ecofriendly craftsmanship and breathtaking beauty Heres how the mandal stands outSince 2019 the mandal has championed a pioneering green approach crafting the idol entirely out of paper The first paper idol a towering 22 feet in height and 18 feet in width weighed nearly 2000 kgRaja Tejukaya 2019 idol PIC SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTRemarkably during visarjan the massive idol is carried on the shoulders of devotees to ChowpattyPainted exclusively with natural colours the idol is completely biodegradable This innovation earned the mandal a Guinness World Record in 2019 for creating the worldrsquos largest ecofriendly BappaIn an exclusive chat with middaycom veteran sculptor Rajan Zad ndash the man behind the Raja Tejukayacha ndash and his son Vidhish offered a glimpse into the artistry and environmental consciousness behind the idolldquoThis year our 22foot Tejukaya Ganpati will take on a majestic warrior avatarrdquo revealed Zad a fourthgeneration sculptorTejukaya Murtikar Rajan Zad at Studio Shilpalaya in Lower Parel Mumbai PIC ANUSHREE GAIKWADBehind the scenesZad explained that the making of the paper idol requires around 40ndash50 kg of paper gum powder and coconut huskContinuing his ecofriendly approach Zad also crafts unique Ganpati idols from dried used flowers which can reach up to 20 feet in height However these are extremely delicate and have to be handled with utmost care especially during the monsoon he statedTejukaya Murtikar Vidhish Zad at Studio Shilpalaya in Lower Parel Mumbai PIC ANUSHREE GAIKWADHis son Vidhish explained that while PlasterofParis PoP idols can be completed in a month ecofriendly idols require far more time and precision ldquoWe begin work in January because we need dry heated weather to ensure the idol sets properly In August the humidity doubles the drying time and even the slightest moisture can ruin the sculpture While PoP is more cost and timeeffective paper and flower idols are truly environmentally friendlyrdquo said VidhishA flower idol costs between Rs 15 lakh and 2 lakh while the famous paper idol costs around Rs 7ndash8 lakhGiven the idols delicate nature the mandal takes elaborate precautions for immersion ldquoWe look after our Bappa like a child From lifting him out of the mandap to the final visarjan at Chowpatty we take every precaution protecting him from rain ensuring road safety and even designing a special raincoat for the idolrdquo said Shubham Patil deputy secretary of the Tejukaya Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav MandalEven the smaller pooja murti is made of clay to ensure it dissolves naturally in water without harming the environment the mandal informedA peek through historyEstablished in 1967 the Tejukaya Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal has been home to one of Mumbairsquos most iconic Ganpati idols For decades the magnificent idol was sculpted by Zadrsquos father Vitthal Zad took over the tradition and continues to create the colossal idol that draws thousands of devotees every yearThe legacy began in 1970 when Vitthal sculpted the first 14foot idol of Raja Tejukayacha The mandal had briefly experimented with cotton idols before Zad made the first paper idol in 1976 In 1979 under the leadership of the trust president late Ganpat Josoolkar the mandal unveiled the legendary Akhanda Brahmand Ganpati a 25foot idol weighing nearly five tonnes with its trolleyIn 1985 Rajan Zad took over his fatherrsquos mantle and created his first idol for the mandal Over the years he went on to carve out several memorable designs including the famed suspended Shesh Naag idol in 2000 He has collaborated with his brother Rupesh and cousins Ajit and Sachin Khot to create many such suspended masterpiecesAt their workshop Studio Shilpalaya the family employs 10ndash15 artisans who earn between Rs 500 and Rs 800 a day depending on their skillsAfter decades of sculpting with devotion Zad plans to pass on the legacy to Vidhish in 2026 ldquoNext year will be my final year as a murtikarrdquo he shared ldquoAll the murtis hold a special place in my heart Creating them alongside my son a fifthgeneration artist has been a true blessingrdquoThe year 2026 will mark the mandalrsquos 60th year a milestone the Tejukaya family is preparing for with unmatched enthusiasm determined to ensure their devotion and ecoconscious traditions continue to inspire Mumbaikars for generations to come