If you wish to sponsor the cost of the idol at Andhericha Raja, one of the most popular Ganesh mandals in the city, you don't stand a chance for the next 43 years. Not even if you are a celebrity.
According to the trustees of the Azad Nagar Sarvajanik Utsav Samiti, which organises the Ganeshotsav, they pick the sponsors through lottery. "As of this year, we already have sponsors till 2062," said Uday Salian, spokesperson for the trust.
Every year, hundreds of devotees including Bollywood actors offer to bear the cost of the idol of Andhericha Raja, often revered as 'ichhapurti Ganesh' – the one who fulfils wishes.
TURNED DOWN ACTOR JITENDRA
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- Organisers said they recently said no to yesteryear superstar Jitendra as they have chosen names for the next 43 years
- Filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s turn comes up in 2021. This year’s theme (left) is based on the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain
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Salian said yesteryear superstar Jitendra had approached them for sponsoring the idol, but they had to politely turn down his offer.
"This year Ashok Rane who is an Architect from Andheri has donated the Andhericha Raja idol. We have also invited his family for Ganesh Chaturthi pooja," said Salian. While many from the film industry are in the queue, filmmaker Rohit Shetty's turn comes up in 2021.
The trust started the tradition of allowing devotees to sponsor the idol in 1996. Salian said, "In 2003, we starting selecting the names through lottery. We disclose the name of the person or family who will be paying the murtikar [idol maker] for a particular year. This year we were flooded with applications so we locked the bookings till 2062."
This year the theme for Andhericha Raja is based on Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, said Salian. "The structure will be spread over 6,000 square feet. The height of the temple is around 56 feet. It is being erected with 56 iron pillars. It is eco-friendly reusable."
Andhericha Raja is the only big idol in Mumbai that is immersed on 'sankashti' following Anant Chaturdashi, when all other idols are immersed. In 1999, it took 21 days before the organisers could bid farewell Andhericha Raja.
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