Pune: Aarti Kulkarni, a resident of Baner, has bought a small mukut (headpiece) for Bappa this Ganeshotsav. The occasion? “For the last three or four years we have not bought such idol ornaments, but this year my grandson was born. So, we bought a small mukut for our Ganapati,” she said.With gold and silver prices soaring to around Rs1.55 lakh per 10g and Rs2.45 lakh per kg, respectively, shoppers are trimming the weight but not the tradition. Families are choosing smaller mukuts, lighter haars and compact silver pieces, while jewellers report continued demand for traditional festive articles.“Ganapati ornaments are built over the years. A family may buy a haar one year, a mukut the next, and then add a shawl or another accessory. What has changed this year is the weight they are comfortable buying. Some customers also exchange an older piece for a new design. Customers are looking for articles that appear grand but are lighter and fit their budget,” said Vastupal Ranka, director at Ranka Jewellers.Purchases typically pick up about 10 days before Ganeshotsav. “A mukut has to look like a mukut and a modak must retain its familiar form. You can bring in new colour, enamel work or different finishes, but the character of the piece must remain traditional,” Ranka said. Haars, malas, shawls and dhotis remain popular, with new colours, enamel work and finishes adding variety without changing their traditional character.Silver durva and modaks are among Ranka Jewellers’ fastest-moving articles this year. Silver thalis, lotas, panchpatras, lamps and bowls are also being bought, but in lightweight varieties. “The price of silver has almost doubled from last year. People still want thalis, lotas, panchpatras, lamps and bowls, but many are choosing lighter or smaller options that suit their budget,” Ranka said.For buyers, however, cutting weight does not mean cutting out the tradition. “Buying these items is a ritual. Since the prices have increased, we are buying smaller, lighter items, but since it is a ritual, people will follow it,” said Piyush Adhikari, a Boat Club Road resident.Hemant Chavaan, head of marketing and e-commerce at PNG Jewellers, said silver demand was strong for Ganeshotsav, with customers buying mukuts, haars, kalash, auspicious ornaments, durva, hibiscus flowers, silver mice, and other puja articles. Prices start at around Rs 500 and rise according to weight and craftsmanship.“We are seeing greater enthusiasm for adding silver elements to festive celebrations despite higher precious-metal prices,” Chavaan said. Gold purchases, meanwhile, are increasingly centred on lightweight jewellery and smaller-ticket pieces.Jewellers are responding with lighter construction and electroforming, while custom-made pieces allow families to control the weight and cost. Ranka said gold Ganpati idols weighing as little as three to five grams were also available.
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