Art of being created while making him

Ten Bappas, Ten Years, One Love ❤️🙏 I was just 11 years old when I first decided to make Bappa with my own hands. I didn't know much about sculpting back then. I didn't have the perfect tools, the perfect clay, or even the patience that I have today. I just had a little bit of curiosity, a lot of excitement, and an immense love for Ganpati Bappa. That first idol was far from perfect. 😅 The proportions were wrong, the finishing was rough, and every step felt like an experiment. But when I finally placed Bappa in front of me, I remember looking at Him with a feeling I couldn't explain. I had created something with my own hands and somehow, it felt like Bappa had been with me throughout the entire process. Then came the next year. And the year after that. Every Ganesh Chaturthi became a new chapter. 11 became 12, 12 became 13… and slowly, those little clay idols became a part of who I was. I learned by making mistakes how to build the structure, shape the face, work on the eyes, smooth the surface, paint, decorate and, most importantly, understand that an idol isn't just something you make; it's something you pour your heart into. There were years when things didn't go as planned. Cracks appeared. Paint went wrong. Something would break just when I thought I was finished. Sometimes I'd look at the idol and think, “This isn't how I imagined it.” But I'd fix it, start again, and somehow Bappa would always come together. And now, I'm 21. Ten years have passed since that 11 year old boy first picked up clay. And this year, I'm making my 10th Bappa. ❤️ When I look at Him, I don't just see clay, colours and decorations. I see ten years of my life the little boy I was, the person I've become, every mistake, every lesson, every late night, every moment of excitement, frustration, and happiness. What started as a hobby at 11 slowly became a tradition, a passion, and a bond that I don't think I'll ever be able to put completely into words. All i feel is that "bappa you came"💗

Kind

Tradition

Place

Thane

Art

Painting (Ālekhyam) · Kala 21

Contributed by

Recorded, name withheld by the contributor

Submitted

21 September 2026

Accepted

21 September 2026