Sadashiv Mallappa Badiger and Eshwar Siddappa Badiger have been making clay-based Ganesh idols for the entire village of Hullolhatti of Hukkeri taluk since three years. Residents of Hullolhatti village in Belagavi district also shun liquor during the festivitiesIn a shinning example of bidding goodbye to plaster of Paris (PoP) idols during the Ganesh festival, the villagers of Hullolhatti of Hukkeri taluk have been using clay idols. This year, but for an aberration wherein two families brought PoP idols from outside the village, all the 398 Hindu families observing the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations have installed clay idols. Despite the prevailing ban on PoP idols, thousands of idols have been already installed both at homes and public pandals, thanks to delayed official measures to create awareness on the issue. Also, none of the public pandals play cinema music or melodies considered as obscene but only devotional songs throughout the 10-day festivities.

Source: The Hindu September 08, 2016 09:22 UTC