India, Feb. 24 -- Following the recent Bombay high court ban on Plaster of Paris (POP) Ganesh idols, the BMC has expedited the shift to shadu or organic clay. However, the sculptors of the normally huge sarvajanik or community idols are encountering significant challenges, with many unsure if they can meet the new requirements.

The smaller sculptors or murtikars begin work 2.5 months in advance, while mass producers start three to four months ahead of the festival. This year, they are struggling to keep up with production targets, as making the transition to big idols seems impossible. Santosh Kambli, a third-generation sculptor from a family with a 91-year legacy of crafting Mumbai's iconic Lalbaghcha Raja idol, said that creating a 14-...