By NirgoshGaude
Ponda
For 25 years, the lanes of Tariwada, Marcel, have come alive each Ganesh Chaturthi with a celebration of art, devotion and imagination. This year, to mark the silver jubilee of its creative Ganesh Utsav, Sai Kala Mandal has built a striking 15-foot-tall idol that combines miniature replicas of all 24 idols crafted over the past years – each telling a story of innovation and dedication.
The mandal first caught attention in 2001 with its debut creation – a massive Ganesh idol made from 2,000 coconuts. Staying true to that eco-friendly legacy, this year too, the idol has been created with around 600 coconuts, despite their soaring prices. Wholesalers Nagesh and Eknath Phadte stepped in to donate coconuts, enabling the mandal to bring its vision alive.
Behind the tradition is artist Namdev Tari, who recalls being inspired by the grand Ganesh Utsavs of Belagavi in Karnataka.
“We wanted to give Marcel that same sense of wonder, but with our own creative and sustainable approach. In those days, most idols were made of plaster of Paris, but I wanted to show that materials like coconuts could be used without harming the environment,” he said.
What began as an experiment, soon became a trendsetter. Marcel once hosted more than 20 such ‘Dekhawa’-lifesize creative Ganesh idols displayed for 21 days, drawing thousands of visitors from across Goa.
However, the pandemic and rising costs have forced many artists to discontinue the tradition.
Today, only a handful of Dekhawas remain, but Sai Kala Mandal has held on, celebrating its 25th year with undiminished passion.
As visitors file past this year’s towering idol, they are not just seeing coconuts shaped into a deity. They are witnessing a legacy of innovation.
that has transformed a village into a hub of festive artistry and inspired countless others to think beyond convention.
