Hyderabad.6 September 2025 : In a grand spectacle this year, the iconic Balapur Ganesh laddu was auctioned for a record-breaking Rs 35 lakh, surpassing last year’s Rs 30.01 lakh bid. The auction, held on Saturday by the Balapur Ganesh Utsav Samithi, saw Lingala Dasharath Goud of Karmanghat emerge as the highest bidder.
Record-Breaking Auction
The auction commenced with an opening bid of Rs 1,116, and bids quickly surged past the previous year’s Rs 30.01 lakh mark. Lingala Dasharath Goud placed the winning bid and graciously handed over the amount to the organisers.
Goud shared his excitement, stating, “I have been participating in the laddu auction for the last six years, and by God’s grace, this time I got it. I am really happy and thankful to the organisers for this opportunity.”
Previous Year’s Winner and New Bidders
Last year, Kolan Shankar Reddy, a local from Balapur, secured the laddu for Rs 30.01 lakh. This year, in addition to several previous successful bidders, seven new participants joined the competitive auction.
Ganesh Idol Faces Minor Setback
The celebrations were not without a minor hiccup. During the early morning Shobha Yatra, the Balapur Ganesh idol suffered minor damage. Due to a slight increase in size, it could not navigate narrow lanes of Balapur. The idol came into contact with asbestos sheets of a house, causing damage to its fingers, which temporarily halted the procession.
As a result, the auction scheduled for 9:30 AM began around 10:45 AM after resolving the issue.
Notable Attendees
The auction witnessed a huge gathering, including BRS MLA P Sabitha Indra Reddy, former MLA Teegala Krishna Reddy, local corporators, and large numbers of enthusiastic devotees.
