Balapur Laddu Auctioned for ₹35 Lakhs
Having tried for six years, the Karmanghat resident finally wins the much-coveted laddu; fetches ₹4.99 lakh more than last year.
Hyderabad: Breaking previous records, the famed Balapur Ganesh laddu fetched Rs 35 lakh at an auction on Saturday, up from last year’s Rs 30.1 lakh.
After years of waiting, Lingala Dashrath Goud, a resident of Karmanghat, emerged victorious. He handed over the amount to the organisers on the spot. Seven other individuals also participated in the auction. “I have been coming to the laddu auction for the last six years and by God’s grace, this time I won it. I am really happy,” Dashrath Goud said.
The tradition dates back to 1994, when the first auction saw farmer Kolan Mohan Reddy purchase the laddu for `450. The Balapur Ganesh Utsava Samithi uses the proceeds for developmental works, including civic amenities, school facilities and temple construction.
This year, the auction was delayed by more than an hour as the Balapur Ganesh Shobha Yatra was held up, with the large idol struggling to pass through narrow lanes.
Laddu auction spreads
· At Richmond Villas in Bandlaguda, the laddu fetched Rs 2.32 crore, surpassing last year’s Rs 1.87 crore. The proceeds, through the RV Diya Charitable Trust, will be channelled to charity.
· At Brigade Citadel in Motinagar, community member Raja Reddy bought the laddu for Rs 5.30 lakh.
· At My Home Bhooja, K. Ganesh successfully bid Rs 51.5 lakh. He had also won last year’s laddu for Rs 29 lakh.
· In Badangpet, Gowra Suresh secured the laddu for Rs 7.1 lakh.
· The Youngmen Social and Cultural Association in Malakpet auctioned two laddus — one bought by Sumanth Gayathri for Rs 1.31 lakh, and another by K. Venkat Narsimha Reddy for Rs 1 lakh.
· Gaddiannaram Colony: Lingala Srinivas Goud (Rs 2.20 lakh).
· Champapet Cricket Club: Sandeep Patel Devarshetty (Rs 4.33 lakh).
· Raghavendra Society, Moosapet: Kaila (Rs 3.06 lakh).
· Sevalalnagar: S. Krishna (Rs 10.2 lakh).
· Attapur New Stars Baktha Samajam: G. Bhoopal Reddy (Rs 12.51 lakh).
· Gandipet’s Varasiddhi Vinayaka Mandapam: Maskuri Shankaraiah (Rs 14.1 lakh).
· Tirumala Hills Ganesh Utsav Committee: J. Srinivas Reddy (Rs 3.7 lakh); Teegala Tulasi Reddy (Rs 2 lakh).
· An auction at Kothapet stood out for its unusual outcome — BBA student Sakshit Goud won a 333-kg laddu for just `99 in a lucky draw conducted by the Sri Ekadantha Youth Association.