ANDHERICHA RAJA IS A TRADEMARK NOW

After Lalbaugcha Raja and Mumbaicha Raja, Andhericha Raja has also applied for a copyright for its idol which has remained unchanged for 47 years

After Lalbaugcha Raja and Mumbaicha Raja, Andhericha Raja has got a trademark for its name and tag line. The registered name for Andhericha Raja will be ``Navsala pavnara Andhericha Raja’’ which translates into ``Wish fulfilling Andhericha Raja’’.

Andhericha Raja, which is put up by Azad Nagar Sarvajanik Utsav Samiti, has also applied for a copyright for its idol. Their idol has remained unchanged for 47 years. It is an eight-and-a-half foot idol with the deity in a seated pose. It is made each year by sculptor Rajan Khatu.

Uday Salvin, spokesperson for Andhericha Raja, said they had to go in for a trademark as other mandals had also started naming their idols Andhericha Raja. ``We were given the name by the residents of Patilwadi,’’ Salvin said. He added that people had started aping their idol also. He is hopeful of getting a copyright in six months.

Girgaumcha Raja too is thinking along the same lines. ``We are 87 years old and people have given us this title,’’ said Hemant Desai, spokesperson for Nikatwari Lane sarvajanik Shri Ganeshutsav Mandal, which puts up the Girgaumcha Raja. The idol is 21 feet high and wears a `pheta’ (turban).

Hemant Sawant of Mahimcha Raja said they were going in for a trade mark as ``there can be only one raja (king) in a locality’’. Their idol measures ten foot and sits on a throne.

Shankar Harale of Khetwadicha Raja, too, complains of people using their name.

Lalbaugcha Raja had got a trademark three years ago. However, Sudhir Salvi of the mandal says they are not interested in a copyright for the idol. Mumbaicha Raja from Ganesh gully in central Mumbai had got a trademark two years ago. Swapnil Parab of the mandal says that their idol changes every year so there was no question of a copyright for the idol.