At Andheri Mandal... Wait till 2056 to sponsor idol

Members of the Andhericha Raja mandal say that they have confirmed bookings till 2026 and have stopped accepting requests as the waiting list is 45-years long

At Andheri Mandal... Wait till 2056 to sponsor idol

Members of the Andhericha Raja mandal say that they have confirmed bookings till 2026 and have stopped accepting requests as the waiting list is 45-years long

If you wanted to sponsor the idol for the Andhericha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandal but didn't have the money, do not fret.

For, you have 45 years to put the pennies together.

Authorities at the mandal, which ranks amongst the most popular in the western suburbs, say thousands of people form part of a waiting list to donate money for the idol and 16 people have already been chosen for each year till 2026 through a lottery.

Purushottam Kale, owner of Vishnu Sakharam Jewellers,
shows a set of kadhas designed for Lord Ganesha

People come forward to donate money for the idol when their wishes are fulfilled.

Uday Salian, the mandal's spokesperson, said, "We have stopped accepting applications as the list keeps increasing and we are yet to sort out this waiting list for the next 45 years.

Several celebrities have been approaching us, but we have stopped accepting requests because we are finding it difficult to maintain the list."

Andheri resident, Anita Mahadeo Silot, who has donated money for this year's idol, said, "I consider myself lucky to have got this honour after 12 long years.

When the lottery was conducted, I was informed that I could sponsor the idol for 2011 and the day has finally come."

Number game
The mandal has an insurance and a special terrorism cover of Rs 2.29 crore.

The idol will be immersed on September 17, which is sankashti according to the Hindu calendar. There is an additional insurance cover of Rs 73.5 lakh for the immersion.