Hyderabad: Balapur Ganesh laddu fetches record Rs 39 lakh at annual auction

The famous Balapur Ganesh Laddu fetched Rs 39 lakh at its annual auction on Friday, setting a higher benchmark than last year. Urban Group chairman Sama Praneeth Reddy won the bid after intense competition from local participants and an NRI bidder.

Hyderabad: Hyderabad’s famous Balapur Ganesh laddu prasadam went under the hammer for a staggering Rs. 39 lakh, which was Rs. 4 lakh more than last year.

After intense bidding from several individuals, including Balapur residents and an NRI, Urban Group head and a resident of Saheb Nagar, Vanasthalipuram, Sama Praneeth Reddy emerged victorious in the auction conducted here on Friday.

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The Balapur Ganesh Utsav Samithi representatives who commenced the auction at Rs.1,116 saw bids crossing last year’s Rs. 35 lakh in no time and Praneeth Reddy came out victorious at the end. This time, an individual named Sama Dayanand Reddy from London, also participated in the auction.

Speaking to media persons, Praneeth Reddy said his attempts to buy laddu at the auction had been unsuccessful in the last four years. “By god’s grace, I could successfully bid for the laddu this time. Balapur youth who are my friends encouraged me to participate in the auction. We are anticipating our real estate and hospitality businesses to flourish,” he added.

The history of the Balapur Ganesh laddu auction dates back to 1994, when it was first successfully bid for Rs 450 by a local farmer Kolan Mohan Reddy, and last year, it fetched a staggering Rs 35 lakh. Balapur residents believe that winning the laddu brings them health, wealth and prosperity.

The tradition of Ganesh laddu auctions that began in Balapur has spread across the State, with several organisers and gated communities following the trend.

Major successful bids for laddus in the city were Kohinoor, Hitec-City, (Rs. 30.50 lakh), MyHome Bhooja (Rs. 25 lakh), MyHome Mangala, Kondapur, (Rs. 21.11 lakh), Indis Viva City, Kondapur, (Rs. 13.21 lakh), Raghupathi County, Nizampet, (Rs. 13.66 lakh), Devi Istana Homes, Kukatpally, (Rs. 10.05 lakh) and Badangpet (Rs. 10.5 lakh).