This Ganesh Chaturthi, help the families of idol makers

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in the month of August. People across the nation welcome Lord Diety as he arrives on earth with his mother Goddess Parvati. For generations, these murtikars have been making spectacular idols. However, this year the COVID-19 pandemic has not only snatched the grand celebrations away from people but also hit these communities. 

The Brihanmumbai Ganesh Murtikar Sangh is an umbrella association of over 700 idol makers in Mumbai. The members of the association are now worried about how the pandemic will affect the idol makers and their families. These sculptors make all kinds of idols in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Then, they can feed their families by selling these idols. Making The Difference, a well-renowned Mumbai-based NGO has joined hands with them and will facilitate the distribution of food kits to all the idol makers in need.

“Every year I make at least 1000 Ganesh idols but this time I have been able to finish only about 450. Again, not all of them are sold yet. What I’ve earned so far is no match for how much I need to survive the whole year.” said Shambhu, an idol maker living in the outskirts of Mumbai. 

This year’s low-key Ganpati celebration has affected many families. Livelihood of thousands of poor families are dependent on the Ganesh festival. Many workers come from other cities to help with sculpting or painting the idols.

The association is afraid of how this pandemic might affect the members of the association. They’re worried about how these poor families will survive until next year. 

Many of these families have been struggling to survive in the last five months without any source of income. Today, they’re worried about how they’ll feed their families. 

You can help them by donating a grocery kit. This Ganesh Chaturthi, help these families by providing them staples to help feed their families. 

Let’s stand by them when they need us the most. Together, we can give them hope for a new beginning.

Beneficiary NGO:

1. Making The Difference - Making The Difference (MTD), established in 2014, found by Mr. Meet Vishwakarma is an NGO formed with an aim to serve the needy & underprivileged. The NGO has been working relentlessly during this time of crisis to serve people from various sections of society. For this project, they have joined hands with Mumbai Murtikar Seva Sangh and Brihanmumbai Ganesh Murtikar Sangh to help idol makers who have been affected this year. They will reach out to idol makers in various parts of Mumbai and Maharashtra to help them with essential supplies.