Hyderabad: With Vinayaka Chavithi just a week away, idol makers and vendors across Hyderabad are anxiously hoping for a turnaround in the weather as sales remain sluggish owing to continuous rains over the past few days. Dhoolpet, the city’s biggest manufacturing hub of Ganesha idols, wore a quiet and unhurried look on Wednesday — a far cry from its busy, bustling self this time of the year. The usual festive shopper crowds were conspicuously missing this time, with artisans and vendors pointing out that many customers who had arrived to buy idols chose to return empty-handed, not wanting to wade through the slushy, waterlogged lanes leading to the stalls.“My wife and I planned to go festive shopping over the weekend, but the rains forced us to defer our plans. As of now we’re breaking up our shopping into small instalments so that we do not get caught in the rains,” Naresh Narayan, a resident of Attapur, told TOI.Idol makers said that with sales yet to pick up pace, many idols are being kept in temporary sheds. “These idols are getting damaged due to moisture, further adding to our losses,” Ramesh T, an idol maker in Dhoolpet, said. “This is the time when sales pick up, but this year’s rains have ruined everything. Buyers are not coming in large numbers, and even when they do, they hesitate to walk through the muddy streets.”Apart from Dhoolpet, markets in other parts of the city have also reported dull sales. Vendors said enquiries were trickling in, but purchases were fewer than expected. “Families usually book their idols by now. This time many are yet to do so, as they’re possibly waiting for the rains to let up. We are hoping that the last three to four days before the festival will bring better business,” said Kiran Kumar, a vendor in Balanagar.Adding to their woes is the rise in input costs. Artisans said clay and transport expenses have gone up this year, forcing them to increase prices. But many customers, struggling with inflation themselves, are bargaining harder or postponing their purchases. “The cost of making idols shot up by at least 20%, but customers are unwilling to pay more. With rains keeping them away, the situation is dicey,” said Virat, who owns an idol making store in Dhoolpet.Despite the gloomy start, artisans are hopeful of a last-minute rush of shoppers. “Experience tells us that Hyderabadis prefer last-minute shopping, and the three days leading up to the festival often bring in a surge. People will come eventually, even if it’s late. But whether we can recover our investments fully this year is the question,” added Virat.
