In the last one week, the Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation (Poompuhar) showroom on Anna Salai sold Lord Ganesha idols and images worth Rs. 10 lakh. And, they expected a bonanza sale on Tuesday, a day before Vinayaka Chaturthi.
As visitors began thronging the showroom around 5 p.m. to buy idols, the presence of anti-US protesters and policemen dissuaded them from shopping. Traffic snarls and route diversions added to low business volume.
Poompuhar has been conducting ‘Ganesh Darshan’ for more than two decades now and it has always been a crowd puller. “The main objective of the exhibition is to provide marketing assistance to craftsmen from different parts of the State. To help them, we will conduct the exhibition till September 30,” said A. Kamala, manager of the showroom.
During the two-week period, different models of Lord Ganesha are displayed and sold at a discount.
Talking to The Hindu , A. Kamala, manager, Poompuhar Showroom, said, “For the first time, we displayed a four-foot bronze ‘eagle Vinayagar — Krithirasura vatham’ along with other models and it drew people from different parts of the city.” Prized at Rs. 7.35 lakh, the ‘eagle Vinayagar’ is a depiction from the Ganesha purana.
“Brass lamps of various sizes ranging from four inches to 72 inches, with Vinayagar motifs, are also being displayed at the venue,” Ms. Kamala said.
This year, idols and images of Lord Ganesha made out of various material include bronze, brass, copper, Thanjavur art plate, Thanjavur painting, rosewood, sandalwood, country wood, white wood, vellarukku, marble, ceramic, terracotta, papier mache, clay, coloured plaster of paris, granite stone, soap stone, Jaipur painting, silk painting, velvet painting, kalamkari, straw and palm leaf. These are priced from Rs. 68 onwards and there is a discount of 10 per cent on all items.
