Mumbai Ganeshotsav mandals use reels, AI and anime references

For Naresh Kumar Kumawat, an idol image on a phone is only the starting point. The second-generation murtikar says younger customers now arrive with digital references for poses, expressions, colours and themes, while the idol’s face and expression still depend on the sculptor’s judgement.

Across Mumbai’s Ganeshotsav preparations, artists are using cinema, anime-style aesthetics and digital art as references. 3D moulds and AI-generated images can help test concepts before clay takes shape.

Reels of idol arrivals, decorations and darshan have also become part of how mandals present their work. At Best Nagar Ganeshotsav Mandal, marketing head Kshitij Shirodkar says teams now include media managers and editors who create material on decorations, celebrity visits and crowd reactions. He says a stronger online presence can improve sponsorship opportunities.

Organisers are also using digital tools for invitations, decoration concepts and crowd management. Demand for reusable materials and eco-friendly makhars is growing, though environmentalist Dr Sujit Paul Zota says artisans need affordable materials, training and fair pricing to make greener practices viable.

Best Nagar Ganeshotsav Mandal’s theme this year is sensible tourism.