Hyderabad gated community auctions laddu ‘prasadam’ for a whopping Rs 1.25 crore

The auction saw 29 participants. Dasari Dayanand Reddy, who was the second-highest bidder in last year’s auction, described winning the laddu as a moment of pride and joy, and a blessing. He added that he would present the laddu to his parents.

The auction of Golden Laddu or laddu prasadam was conducted by the Balapur Ganesh Utsav Samithi and marks the commencement of the 19 km-long Ganesh Shobha Yatra towards Hussainsagar Lake.

The annual auction has been ongoing since 1994 when the laddu was sold for Rs 450. In contrast, the 2021 auction had fetched Rs 18.9 lakh. The tradition has grown in popularity with the passing of each year as the laddu prasadam is believed to usher in good health, wealth and prosperity.

Meanwhile, a gated community in Bandlaguda Jagir on the outskirts of Hyderabad saw a similar auction where the laddu was sold for a whopping Rs 1.25 crore.

The organisers of the event at Keerthi Richmond Villas in Bandlaguda Jagir said that the amount will be used for charity. The residents here have been organising laddu auctions as part of Ganesh Chaturthi festivities for the last 10 years.

One of the organisers said that the money raised is used for children’s education, health care and supply of groceries in coordination with several NGOs. The auction had fetched Rs 65 lakh last year.

As a part of the festivities, a 63-foot-tall clay idol of Khairatabad Ganesh was taken out for procession to be immersed in the Hussainsagar Lake by afternoon.