Prayagraj Potters Thrive as Demand for Eco-Friendly Diwali Idols Soars

As the 2025 Diwali festival approaches, the demand for locally made idols of Ganesha, Lakshmi, and other deities has witnessed a significant increase in Prayagraj. This surge in popularity has been attributed to appeals by social organizations to boycott Chinese goods, which has helped the city's potters tremendously.

The potters, who have been working around the clock to meet the growing demand, are using homemade, eco-friendly materials such as cow dung, lac, coconut shells, jute, clay, and natural colors to craft these idols. The best part is that this year, retailers are requesting more decorative and larger idols, which has resulted in a handsome profit for the artisans.

Ghanshyam Kumhaar, a potter from the Baluaghat locality, expressed his satisfaction with the increased demand, stating, "The demand for idols made by us is far more compared to previous years. We are not interested in the reason and are more concerned with the fact that this increased demand is helping us monetarily."

The local citizens have also embraced the trend of opting for biodegradable idols, as they are conscious of the need to reduce pollution. These idols, ranging from Rs 20 to Rs 250, are giving tough competition to the ones brought from neighboring markets like Chunar, which are known for their ceramic and plaster of Paris (PoP) idols.

The shift towards eco-friendly Diwali celebrations has been welcomed by both the local community and officials from the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, who are pleased to see the reduction in water and soil pollution.