Hyderabad: The Balapur Ganesh laddu was auctioned for a whopping price of Rs 17.6 lakh, Rs 1 lakh more than last year. The bidding for the laddu began on the streets of Balapur around 10:30 am on Thursday.
The 21-kilogram laddu was won by Kolan Ram Reddy, a local resident of Balapur. Local residents and people from as far as Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh participating in the several rounds of bidding.
Reddy is a businessman and agriculturalist. He has a son and a daughter. Reddy's extended family is known to have participated in the previous auctions of the Balapur Laddu.
The auction event was attended by several politicians including Education Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy.
After winning the bid, Reddy climbed onto the vehicle that was carrying Balapur Ganesh. He then held the laddu on his head as a mark of respect. Balapur Ganesh Utsav Samithi office bearers including K Niranjan Reddy offered garland to him.
In 2018, the popular laddu fetched Rs 16.6 lakh. It was bought by Teretipalli Srinivas Guptha, president of Balapur mandal Arya Vaishya Sangam.
The auction of the Balapur laddu began in 1994 when the laddu was sold for Rs 450. It is believed that the winner of the laddu will have a bright future and their business would prosper. The auction has become a tradition for the final day of Ganesh festivities.
Ananta Chaturdashi marks the end of Ganesh festivities with devotees bidding a farewell to Lord Ganesh by immersing the idols in a pond, lake, river or sea.
