Designers Ganesh idols in Kuldip Sons Jewellers. Picture by Uma Shankar Dubey.

Jamshedpur, Sept. 16: The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi will not be the same anymore. And the difference lies in the idol itself, which comes with designer tags this year.

From a sitting Ganesh to a reclining one made of mud and clay, to one made of gold and silver ? you can take your pick.

Sculptors and jewellers across the city are busy giving a ?new look? to the Ganesh idols.

Kuldip Sons, one of the city?s premium jewellery shops, has come up with a range of idols. The shop has launched idols made of hall-marked gold and silver. ?We introduced Ganesh idols made of precious metals this year and the response has been overwhelming,? said Sunil Verma, the director of Kuldip Sons.

Verma said the idols range from Rs. 49,000 to Rs 70,000. ?People want idols, which can be used as decorative items as well,? said Verma, adding that most of the pieces have sold out and new orders are pouring in .

The best part about the idols, said Verma, is that they can be preserved for years.

Card and gift shops, too, have come out with their own version of designer idols. They have launched a variety of idols made of crystal as well as wood.

?I think the designer Ganesh has really caught on to the imagination of the customers,? said Rajesh Vasani, the proprietor of Archies Gallery. Vasani said the designer idols were a huge hit this year. The shop has also introduced wall hangings, posters and ornaments on the same theme, which range from a Rs 20 to Rs 10,000.

Hallmark has also launched an attractive range of wooden idols and wall hangings. ?I bought a wooden Ganesh for this year?s puja. It is not only attractive, but cheaper too,? said Rakhi Vyas, a customer at Hallmark.

The sculptors of the steel city are flooded with demands of the idols in postures different from the traditional one. ?The taste of the devotees are changing and we have no choice but to cater to them,? said Kedar Mallick, a sculptor busy giving final touches to one of the idol. He said this year he received a number orders of Ganesha's idol in different postures.

?The demand varies from one person to another. While some want the rat, the traditional mascot of Ganesh, others prefer a lotus flower,? said Mallick, adding that some customers have demanded a reclining Ganesha carved on stone.

?We are happy at the rise in demand for Ganesh idols. But, at the same time, we are also worried about the extra effort required to sculpt the image in different postures,? said Mallick.