Khairatabad Ganesh Committee Unveils Theme for 69-Foot Eco-Friendly Idol

On Thursday, June 25, 2026, the Khairatabad Ganesh Utsav Committee officially commenced preparations for the upcoming festival by performing the traditional Karra Puja ritual and unveiling the theme for this year's iconic Ganesh idol in Khairatabad, Hyderabad. The committee announced that the massive 69-foot eco-friendly idol will be built under the theme 'Panchamukha Sankatahara Maha Ganapati' ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival on September 14, 2026.

The Karra Puja is a key ritual traditionally performed over several decades to mark the official start of construction works for the city's tallest eco-friendly deity. The ceremony took place directly at the pandal site, drawing together organizers and workers to initiate the three-month building process.

According to sculptor Chinnaswamy Rajendran, who has been associated with the creation of the Khairatabad idol for the past four decades, this year's design will incorporate unique features. He stated that a 15-foot Somnath Jyothirlinga will be crafted on the right side of the main idol, while Kalika Mata will be featured on the other side.

Saingari Raj Kumar, the Chairman of the Khairatabad Ganesh Utsav Committee, explained that the committee commenced building the idol three months ahead of the festival to ensure its timely completion. Over 100 skilled workers will be deployed to craft the gigantic structure, working under the direct supervision of Rajendran.

The organizers have already acquired a variety of raw materials to construct the inner core and the scaffolding of the idol. These materials include clay, steel, dry grass, rice husk, and wood, which have been sourced from multiple states across India, including Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu.

The team of workers aims to complete the massive sculpting and painting work three days before the Ganesh Chaturthi festival begins, allowing devotees to view the finished structure in its full glory.