Hyderabad: A Ganesh laddu from Keerthi Richmond Villas of Bandlaguda retained its title as the most expensive laddu in Telangana by fetching a record ₹1.87 crore in the auction held on Monday, September 16. It is likely to hold on to this title as the other laddus including Balapur in race do not find their place in the Richmond’s league.
The auction at Bandlaguda, held as part of the Ganesh Chaturthi festivities, was done with huge pomp and gaiety, underscoring the significant values it has on religious offerings and the connected tradition.
Laddu of Ganesh festival at #KeerthiRochmondVillas of Bandlaguda Jagir municipal corporation in Hyderabad was bought for a whopping Rs.1.87 crore this year. Last year, it was bought for Rs.1.27 crore. As many as 150 donors of RV Divya Charitable trust purchase the laddu… pic.twitter.com/qGztXFBfNa
— Saye Sekhar Angara (@sayesekhar) September 17, 2024
Intense bidding competition among the resident devotees during the auction pushed the final price to a new high. While the organisers have not revealed the buyer’s name, the price it fetched marks an increase of ₹61 lakh from the previous year. In 2023, the laddu went for ₹1.26 crore.
Bandlaguda Jagir is a satellite city of Hyderabad, located in Rangareddy district. It falls under Gandipet mandal of Rajendranagar revenue division. The township was recently upgraded to a municipal corporation.
The money raised through auctioning Ganesh laddus are being utilised by the residents’ welfare association trust for multiple developmental projects and for the welfare of the downtrodden.
Last year, the trust, in a statement, had said: "Six years ago when we raised ₹ 2 lakh, we used the funds to pay the school fees of our house helps’ children. The pool has now grown 60 times the number, which we will use for similar welfare activities."
With passing years, the Keerthi Richmond Villas laddu has grown into the most expensive ones in Telangana’s Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. In 2022, the laddu was auctioned at ₹60 lakh.
Currently, bidding enthusiasts are keeping a close watch on the Balapur Ganesh laddu auction, scheduled for Tuesday, September 17.
Last year, Dasari Dayanand Reddy, a Turkyayamjal village resident, bought this laddu for ₹27 lakh. Since its inception in 1994 by the Balapur Ganesh Utsav Samithi, the custom of auctioning off the Balapur Ganesh laddu will follow soon after the Balapur 'Ganesha Visarjan' procession.
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