Hyderabad’s 69-foot Khairatabad Ganesh idol will be unveiled as the Panchamukha Sankatahara Maha Ganapati as the city begins its Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations on Monday, following more than two months of work by artisans from four states and the use of nearly 1,000 bags of natural clay.
The idol, being prepared in Khairatabad, was completed in about two-and-a-half months this year, compared with the usual three months, according to a report by Deccan Chronicle. The first puja was performed on June 25, after which the idol-making process began.
Around 100 to 150 artisans and workers from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu were involved in fabrication, structural work, clay moulding, painting and associated tasks. The scale of the work makes the annual installation not only a religious event but also a temporary urban operation involving specialised labour, large-volume material handling and arrangements for thousands of visitors.
The structure begins with a framework made of steel and wood. Dried paddy straw is then used to cover the framework before layers of natural clay and sand are applied to shape the idol. Nearly 1,000 bags of river-clay powder sourced from Rajasthan were used, with the material mixed with local sand and water.
A mixture of sutli powder, sand and straw was applied to the upper portions to help prevent cracking. Water-based colours were used for the finishing work. The materials and techniques described by the organisers are intended to help the idol withstand rain during the festival and support its presentation as an eco-friendly clay sculpture.
Raj Kumar, chairman of the Khairatabad Ganesh Utsav Samiti, said different stages of the work were handled by specialised teams. “About 100 to 150 artisans work on the idol, apart from helpers. Some come from Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The clay mixture is prepared so the idol can withstand rain during the festival,” he said.
The Khairatabad Bada Ganesh tradition is in its 72nd year. It began in 1954 with a one-foot idol and expanded over the decades, with each year’s installation carrying a distinct message. The 69-foot Panchamukha Sankatahara Maha Ganapati is expected to become the main attraction for this year’s celebrations.
Thousands of devotees from Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana are expected to visit the site during the festival. The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation has arranged special services for people travelling to Khairatabad, linking the installation to the city’s public transport and crowd-movement arrangements.
The unveiling will mark the start of the public festival programme, with the completed idol, the participating artisan teams and the transport arrangements forming the central components of this year’s Khairatabad celebrations.
