Adarsh Murtikar

Our place, Adarsh Murtikar, is tucked away in Mansunatha Layout near Airport Road. We are specifically at the 5th Cross in Dongri. It’s more of a workshop than a proper store. There is always dust from the clay and stone everywhere, but that’s just part of the work. We make different types of idols and statues here. It’s a family thing that’s been going on for years. The space is a bit cramped because of all the unfinished pieces sitting around. We don't have a big sign outside, but the neighbors know us well. If you’re coming from the main Airport Road, you have to take a few turns to find this corner. It’s quiet back here compared to the main traffic. We spend a lot of hours sitting on the floor working on the details. Sometimes the light isn't great, but we manage. My brother handles the heavy lifting while I do the finishing touches. During festival seasons, the whole place gets incredibly crowded with orders. We don't use any high-tech machines, just our hands and some basic tools we’ve had for a long time. It’s hard work and your hands stay dirty most of the day. People come to us when they want something specific for their homes or for a small temple. We just keep working day by day without any big fuss about it. We usually start our work as soon as the sun comes up.