SAWANTWADI
Outreach Activity
Meeting with Murtikars in Kasal, Sindhudurg 12 Jan 2025
Our second visit to the artisans in Sindhudurg, was to participate in a training they held for artisans to understand eco friendly materials such as cow dung, cocopeat and paper mache in addition to their work with clay. Punaravartan concepts were shared with the attendees and the children as well as their parents who had been invited to attend the event.
Meeting with Murtikars in Kasal, Sindhudurg 16 June 2024
The Punaravartan core team travelled to Kasal in Sindhudurg to attend a workshop on paints ( organised by a commercial paint vendor). At this event we introduced to them for the first time the concept of Punaravartan and found the artisans to be very open to the idea.
Research
Sindhudurg Artisan Survey
Following the first visit to Kasal, we realised the need for a more in depth study and conversations with the artisans. A survey was done where we spoke individually to nearly 48 artisans that we had met on our visit there. Following are the results of this survery which gave us a deeper understanding into the challenges they face.
List of Murtikars, ready to recycle clay
| NAME OF ARTISANS | CONTACT NUMBER | ADDRESS |
|---|---|---|
| Swarup Shankar Kasar | 9552255795 | Machgaon , Sawantwadi |
| Gangaram Ramesh Manjarekar | 9967706472 | zarap . 416510 |
| Uday Baburao Raut | 9423212830 | Madkhol . Sawantwadi. 416510 |
| Ranjit Krushna Marathe | 9422632826 | Kunkeri . Sawantwadi. |
| Narayan Yashwant Sawnat | 9422078539 | Majgaon , Sawantwadi |
| Dattatray Ashok Mathkar | 9011110745 | Waingane , Vaingurla 416516 |
| Nandkishor Vasant Mestry | 9404927884 | Pokharan . kudal. |
| Swapnil Balkrushna Mestry | 9423359078 | Ghavnale , Kudal. 416520 |
| Vaibhav Dnyandev Gawade | 9420765083 | Madyachiwadi , Kudal.416520 |
| Siddhesh Vilas Sarmalkar | 9075132003 | Karamalgaluwadi , kudal |
| Chandrashekhar Baburao Patade | 9421236419 | Sukalwad . 416534 |
| Dilip Udaji Dalavi | 9082175235 | Talgaon , Malwan 416534 |
| Gurunath Balkrushna Mestry | 8422987177 | Kudal .416550 |
| Sohan Sachin Gothankar | 8378020536 | Kasal . 416603 |
| Nandkumar Babaji Chavhan | 9403560393 | Kasal |
| Ajay Gajanan parab | 9423922338 | osargaon . 416603 |
| Ekanath Manohar Pedanekar | 9158705023 | Kasal, 416603 |
| Jagnnath Bhagwan Gawade | 8080783108 | Chauke , Malwan 416605 |
| Uday Anant Bhoganvkar | 8412808594 | Kumbharmath . 416606 |
| Kiran Mahadev Mitbawkar | 8412805181 | Malwan |
| Dipak Sitaram Tawade | 8329345639 | Torasole, Devagad. 416611 |
| Siddhardh Krushna Mestry | 9158166046 | Aambrad, Kudal.416628 |
| Gopal Bala Patgaonkar | 7588909449 | Pokharan |
| Satyawan Ganpat Devali | 8080968280 | Aamrad. kudal .416628 |
| Abhijit Anant Mandvkar | 8779130043 | Rajapur, Kasheli |
| Nitin Vaman Anavkar | 9766583365 | Anav . Kudal |
| Vishnu Sakharam Pedanekar | 9765321095 | Anav , Patilwadi |
Where does Idol Immersion take place?
In Sawantwadi, the central location for idol immersion is Moti Talao (Moti Lake), particularly bustling during festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi. This picturesque lake serves as a traditional site where communities gather to bid farewell to their idols amidst cultural festivities.
Environmental Impact and Materials Used
Despite its cultural significance, idol immersion poses environmental challenges, primarily due to the prevalent use of plaster of Paris (PoP). PoP idols contain non-biodegradable materials and toxic paints, which adversely affect water bodies like Moti Talao. To address these concerns, regulations mandate the shift towards eco-friendly materials such as clay (Shadu clay), which dissolve harmlessly in water, minimizing ecological damage.
Laterite Soil
Soil Type in Sawantwadi
Sawantwadi is located in the coastal Konkan region of Maharashtra, which typically features laterite soil. This soil is rich in iron and aluminum, well-drained, and suitable for the lush green vegetation seen in the area.