Distorted Ganesh idols in Cuttack: Orissa HC refuses to step in

The Orissa High Court on Monday declined to intervene in the matter over distorted Ganesh idols prepared by Kumbharsahi idol makers.

The court has asked police to resolve the issue.

According to sources, police on Sunday summoned a few idol makers and asked them to demolish the idol. Also, the cops asked the idol makers not to send the idol to puja pandal for worship. 

However, this did not go down well with a few idol makers who moved Orissa High Court seeking its decision in favour of them.

The idol makers claimed that they will incur heavy loss if they are not allowed to sell the idols and have to demolish them. They urged the HC that they should be allowed to sell the idols.

The distorted idols of Lord Ganesh are being made not only in Cuttack but also in different places of the state.

With two days left for the Ganesh puja, artisans are spending sleepless nights in giving final touches to the idols. But some artisans and puja committees had courted controversy for giving a whimsical shape to the idols. 

At a pandal in Cuttack, the lord looks like his father with the water of the Ganga coming out from the matted locks and a snake around the neck. At another, he sits on a lion, instead of a rat.

Terming the distorted idols as Rudra Ganesh, Ashish Mishra, the petitioner's advocate said, “Commissionerate Police have no idea regarding existence of Rudra Ganesh. Idols of Rudra Ganesh are very available in Pune, Nagpur and Maharashtra and are also worshipped in the past.” 

Mishra further said, “Distorted Ganesh idols are not the subject of discussion here. Police ego is the matter of concern. In a separate petition, police have claimed that they came to know about sale of distorted idols at Kumbharsahi and raided the area. They took an undertaking from idol makers after holding a discussion with the latter. Police have misled the Court by making all these fake claims. All they (police) want to spoil their business as they are earning fast buck during the puja season.”

Warning the idol makers and clubs, Cuttack Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Pinak Mishra appealed to refrain from such practice. 

"Police have always asked the idol makers to refrain from making such idols. We will take action if the idol makers are found disobeying the order. Police cannot entertain such steps which will hurt religious sentiment of devotees," added Mishra.