Ganesh Chaturthi | Meet the Mangaluru Family That Puts Work On Hold to Craft Ganesha Idols

For nearly a century, a Mangaluru-based family has been keeping a unique Ganesh Chaturthi tradition alive by crafting Lord Ganesha idols by hand. Ramachandra Rao and his family have been making the idols for 97 years, setting aside their regular work for more than a month each festival season. The family makes the idols strictly on order and uses eco-friendly materials, with their creations reaching homes and public spaces across India and even abroad. The tradition also extends to making Goddess Sharda idols during Navratri, preserving a cherished family legacy across generations.