1 2 Prayagraj: This Diwali, a women self-help group 's endeavour to shape cow bovine products into trendy Ganesh-Laxmi idols has caught people's fancy not only in Sangam City but also in other towns of UP. A group of six women under the banner of Asharani Foundation , led by Abha Singh, is turning heads with their unique designer idols of Ganesh and Laxmi, diya stands, wall hangings, and other decors made of cow dung and guar gum. Interestingly, the city-based SHG is flooded with orders for idols from the city as well as other cities like Agra, Muzaffarnagar, Lucknow, Kanpur, etc.
"As people know the benefits of cow dung in terms of its medicinal value, the demand for cow-made products has increased manifold across the country," said Abha Singh"I also got calls from Jaipur for designer idols and wall hangings made of cow dung," she claimed. Three years ago, Singh started this one-of-a-kind mission and is now showcasing talent in idol shaping and wall hanging. The demand for 12-inch Lord Ganesh idols made of cow dung has gone up in UP markets.
Speaking about the products, she said, "The group of women are working hard to shape idols as well as diya stands. After drying the dung, the women remove grass and other material from it. Later, it is ground into a powder and mixed with guar gum.
Then it is set in different moulds. After drying, they are painted to enhance their beauty." Singh, meanwhile, said the idols cost anywhere between Rs 100 and Rs 150, while other decor costs be.