Kumbakonam(TN), December 01: Demand for the famous ‘panchaloha’ idols of Swamimalai town near here is on the rise as more and more NRIs are funding construction of temples abroad.
The demand is being made mainly from NRIs in US, UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Switzerland, Malaysia and Thailand.
Seven temples are being built in London, one in Toronto and another in France, says master craftsman and director of Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation, Srikanda Stapathy, adding Tamils abroad also demand such idols, who have been building temples in large numbers.
He said the Festival of India, held during the tenure of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, popularised the art of making these idols, ranging in size from six inches to 12 feet.
Foreigners at the festival were struck by the handcrafted designs and the way in which they were made.
–PTI