Laddu auction fetches lakhs in Hyderabad

The famous Balapur Ganesh laddu of the Old City here has fetched a whopping Rs 9.26 lakh for the organisers, nearly Rs 2 lakh more than last year's auction. The auction was organised by the Balapur Ganesh Utsava Samithi, and former mayor Teegala Krishna Reddy put in the winning bid for the laddu.

Last year's laddu was auctioned off for Rs 7.50 lakh. Auctioning of the laddu started back in 1994, and it was sold for Rs 450 that year.

Next in line, the Badangpet laddu has garnered Rs 6.40 lakh this year.

Over the last few years, auctioning of Ganesh laddus has caught the fancy of some local leaders in Tirupati. The Ganesh laddu at Tummalagunta, situated on the outskirts of Tirupati, was sold for Rs 3 lakh last year. 

Ganesh Pandal organisers see laddu auctioning as a means of revenue generation. Balapur residents say that the money coming from the auction is used for development by the Panchayat.

Meanwhile, the process of immersion of Ganesh idols progressed peacefully on Wednesday here, despite heavy rain that lashed the capital of Andhra Pradesh. Lakhs of devotees thronged the streets to participate in the immersion, amid massive security.

Over 20,000 policemen and personnel from paramilitary forces were deployed in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, and the Cyberabad police commissionerate limits, to maintain peace.

Hundreds of idols had started reaching the Hussain Sagar Lake in the heart of the city for immersion since morning. Thousands of idols were still on their way to Hussain Sagar and 23 other lakes in and around the city by evening. Workers of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation are removing debris and puja material to prevent pollution of the lakes.

Armed policemen were seen keeping a tight vigil over the mammoth processions, which passed through the communally sensitive Old City.

The afternoon prayers at the historic Mecca Masjid passed off peacefully. Police have installed 800 CCTV and video cameras on procession routes to keep vigil, while 32 bomb disposal squads have been pressed into service.