Team News Riveting
The pandemic had though sent a pale of gloom in the Ganeshotsav celebration this year, but there was still reason for a bash.
The on-going campaign against the Chinese products in wake of Galwan incident in which scores of Indian soldiers were martyred could be seen in the festival season too. There had been no import of Ganesh idols from China.
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Saturday (22 August) said that the import of ‘Made-in-China’ Ganesh idols has been nil this year. “Every year about 30 crore idols of Lord Ganesh are purchased across country,” CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said.
As per an estimate China used to make export of Ganesh idols to the extent of about Rs 500 crore every year, he said, adding that adhering to the boycott Chinese call, no import of Ganesh idol was done this year.
The CAIT had joined the campaign to boycott Chinese goods across sectors to encourage Indian industries. According to Khandelwal, smaller idols are being preferred this year even as Ganesh Chaturthi began on Saturday.
Instead of flocking to temples, people preferred to temporarily install idol of Lord Ganesh in their homes and offer prayers.
Well before the boycott call and the Galwan incident, Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had alerted people to avoid idols from China. While addressing party workers in January, Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said there was nothing wrong in imports to spur growth but wondered why even Ganesha idols should be bought from China.
