Mumbai: The annual auction of gold and silver offerings made by devotees to the Lalbaugcha Raja Ganeshotsav Mandal netted a sum of Rs 2.35 crore Saturday evening. The highlight was a 1kg gold brick that sold for Rs 75.
9 lakh. An enormous gold necklace weighing approximately the same, went for Rs 74 lakh. The entire range of offerings could not go under the hammer due to paucity of time, so further sales will be scheduled later.
Saturday's auction was held inside the very pandal where the idol is installed during Ganeshotsav. Treasurer Mangesh Dalvi said Friday the total cash received from Sept 7 to 20 is Rs 5.65 crore.
This along with the auction amount takes their Ganeshotsav 2024 earnings to Rs 8 crore so far. On Friday, the rate for 22-carat gold was Rs 72,310 and 24 carat Rs 74,000 per 10gm. Silver was priced Rs 89,000 per kg.
The large ‘hundi' for bullion offerings had received 4.15kg of gold and 64.3kg silver from Sept 8 to 20.
Mandal president Balasaheb Kamble said worshippers had offered idols, Mooshak, crowns, necklaces, a mace, houses, chains, finger rings, modaks, samaii (tall oil lamps), and even a small pair of silver khadaoon footwear. "Several offerings of bullion, jewellery and artefacts presented by devotees were auctioned, but a large 20kg gold crown worth Rs 16 crore donated by (board member) Anant Ambani's corporate-led foundation was not for sale. That is a permanent installation," said Kamble.
"We auctioned a part of the donations Saturday. We could no.