Amid glittering displays of Ganesh pandals near Shaniwarwada, Shivaji Sangh’s pandal is unlikely to catch the attention of passers-by. Yet, the display behind the tin enclosure is unique, not just because it is a magnificently crafted thermocol replica of Kolhapur’s Mahalakshmi temple, but because the artists who toiled day and night making it are members of a Muslim family, who believe in art as a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity.

Headed by 55-year-old Imtiaz Shaikh, the family, comprising 45-year-old Akhtari Shaikh, 28-year-old Sarfaraz, and 19-year-old Anwar, live in Pimpale Gurav, and have been working on festival decorations for over 25 years. They have earned repute in the city and in Karnataka.

Imtiaz said he had a passion for art right from his childhood. Although he took up vocational training at the Industrial Training Institute and went on to become a maintenance employee at Roplas India, he continued to pursue his hobby even before he took voluntary retirement in 2000. “Even when I was still working at Roplas, my employers encouraged me, allowing me to take go on long leave during Ganeshotsav to work on decorations,” he recalled.

His wife Akhtari too began to assist him. “It was only after we got married that I discovered my talent, and haven’t looked back ever since,” she said. Elder son Sarfaraz also showed promise when he was just three.

While the Shaikhs had crafted a similar replica of the temple for Shivaji Sangha 25 years ago, this year’s model is new and improved, complete with the intricate carvings and dancing figurines.

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