Balapur Ganesh laddu fetches record Rs 35 lakh at auction

The iconic Balapur Ganesh laddu was auctioned for a record Rs 35 lakh on Saturday, surpassing last year’s Rs 30.01 lakh bid. Lingala Dasharath Goud of Karmanghat emerged successful, even as the Ganesh idol faced minor damage during the Shobha Yatra.

Hyderabad: The famous Balapur Ganesh laddu on Saturday was auctioned for a staggering Rs.35 lakh on Saturday, setting a new record as it was Rs.5 lakh more than previous year’s bid.

In the auction organised by Balapur Ganesh Utsav Samithi, Lingala Dasharath Goud from Karmanghat has successfully bid the laddu. In fact, he handed over the auction amount to the organisers.

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The organisers who commenced the auction Rs.1,116 saw bids crossing the last year’s Rs.30.01 in no time and Goud came out victorious.

“I have been coming for the laddu auction for the last six years and by god’s grace, this time I got it. I am really happy,” said Goud and thanked the organisers for giving him the opportunity.

Last year, Kolan Shankar Reddy, a Balapur local, bagged the laddu for Rs.30.01 lakh. In addition to previous successful bidders, seven new individuals took part in the auction.

Meanwhile, the Balapur Ganesh idol suffered a minor setback in the morning as it could not navigate through the narrow lanes of Balapur due to its slight increase in size during Shobha Yatra.

After early morning pooja, the Ganesh idol encountered asbestos sheets of a house, resulting in minor damage to its fingers. This halted the procession. The auction, which was scheduled for 9.30 am, could only commence around 10.45 am due to the issue.

BRS MLA P Sabitha Indra Reddy, former MLA Teegala Krishna Reddy, local corporators and people in large numbers witnessed the auction.