Wednesday, 23rd August 2006 (2348 views)

The Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, a Ganesh idol in Mumbai, is receiving an unusual makeover – a silver and gold covering for its feet, India's Express News reports.

One of the largest and most-visited idols in the Indian city, the statue can be found at the Lalbaugcha Raja temple and has been stationed at its current site for over 70 years.

However, since it was first commissioned the sheer number of visitors approaching the idol and touching its feet was beginning to erode the bottom of the Plaster of Paris statue, prompting officials to look for a solution.

A protective covering made of 20 kilograms of silver and 300 grams of gold is being placed over the idol's feet and, having begun in May this year, work is expected to be completed this week.

The cost of the protective layer of precious metals is to be covered by the idol's own fund, "entirely from contributions from the devotees", said Sunil Joshi, the mandal's chairman.

The new addition to the statue is unlikely to draw too much attention however, as the idol is already adorned with several gold ornaments.

 

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