If you're looking for a Ganpati-season or Diwali gift that isn't another diya or sweet box, Maharashtra's rural artisans make something you won't find in a regular gift shop: handcrafted clay and wood figurine sets depicting Warkari pilgrims, devotional processions, and historical figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Here's what these pieces actually are, how they differ, and how to pick one that fits your space and budget.
What is a Warkari figurine set?
The Warkari sampradaya is one of Maharashtra's best-known devotional traditions — pilgrims (Warkaris) who walk to Pandharpur to worship Vitthal and Rukhmini, often in organised processions. UmedMart's Warkari sets translate this into tabletop clay art: coordinated groups of hand-painted figurines showing the deities alongside pilgrim figures, sized for a pooja shelf, festival display, or a themed corner of a home.
Two SHG-made sets illustrate the range well. The SADARAM Vitthal-Rukhmai & Warkari Clay Figurine Set of 10 includes Vitthal, Rukhmai, and eight Warkari figures (four male, four female) made by Sadaram SHG in Wardha. The PRAGATI Warkari Terracotta Clay Figurine Set of 7 is a smaller, seven-piece version made by Pragati SHG in Dharashiv, using natural terracotta clay with mineral-based colours.
Clay or wood — what's the difference?
UmedMart's Statues & Figurines range comes in two main materials, and the choice mostly comes down to look and where the piece will sit.
| Material | Look & feel | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Natural clay / terracotta | Hand-painted, earthy, traditional murti finish | Pooja shelves, devotional displays, festival arrangements |
| Natural wood | Carved, unpainted or lightly finished, folk-art style | Desks, shelves, gifting, everyday home décor |
Clay pieces, like the SADARAM Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj 14-Inch Clay Statue, are made from natural clay soil by Sadaram SHG and suit cultural, institutional, or commemorative displays — a 14-inch single-piece statue works well for a Shiv Jayanti table or an office reception. Wooden pieces such as the SHIVABAI Lucky Man Handcrafted Natural Wood Figurine, hand-carved by Saras Self Help Group in Buldhana, are smaller, lighter, and better suited to a desk or a gift box — UmedMart's own listing is careful to note that a figure's name (like "Lucky Man") is just its product identity, not a promise of luck.
Single murti or a coordinated set?
If you want one clear focal piece — for a pooja corner, a gift for an elder, or a heritage display — a single statue like the 14-inch Shivaji Maharaj murti or the SADARAM Vitthal-Rukhmai 12-Inch Handcrafted Clay Murti is the simpler choice — one figure, one clear subject, easier to place.
If you want to recreate a scene — a Dindi procession, a Bhajni Mandal (musical group), or the full Warkari gathering — the multi-piece sets are built for that. UmedMart lists several: the SHRI ART Dindi Handcrafted Figurine Set of 8 and SHRI ART Bhajni Mandal Handcrafted Figurine Set of 5, both made by Shri Art SHG in Dharashiv, work best displayed together on a wide, stable surface rather than spread across shelves — the point of a set is the group, not the individual pieces.
Price range and what drives it
Prices across the Statues & Figurines range track fairly closely with piece count and size rather than any one "premium" material. Large coordinated sets — like the 10-piece Vitthal-Rukhmai-Warkari arrangement — sit at the top of the range, while single small figurines and individual wooden pieces are the most affordable entry point. If budget is the main constraint, a single wooden figurine or a small clay murti gets you an authentic SHG-made piece without the cost of a full set.
Caring for a clay or wood figurine
Across the range, UmedMart's own product listings give the same simple care instructions: place the figure on a stable, dry surface, dust it gently with a soft, dry cloth, and avoid water, soaking, or abrasive cleaners — clay in particular doesn't hold up well to moisture. Treat these as display pieces rather than everyday-handled objects, and they'll hold their finish for years.
Who makes these?
Every piece in this range comes from a named Maharashtrian SHG: Sadaram SHG (Wardha), Pragati SHG (Dharashiv), Shri Art SHG — part of the Pragati Mahila Swayam Sahayata Samuh (Tuljapur) — and Saras Self Help Group (Buldhana) for the wooden figurines. Buying one is a way to bring home a specific regional craft tradition rather than a generic showpiece — and to put the money behind the women who actually made it.
Browse the full range in UmedMart's Statues & Figurines collection.
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