24 people participated in the auction, and Kallem Madan Mohan Reddy finally wrested the laddu, weighing about 21 kg, for Rs 10.32 lakhs.
The famous Balapur Ganesh laddu fetched a whopping Rs 10.32 lakhs in the open auction held before the start of Ganesh immersion procession on Sunday.
Excitement and surprises marked the auction, and Kallem Madan Mohan Reddy finally wrested the laddu, weighing about 21 kg, for Rs 10.32 lakhs.
The laddu was purchased last year by a local resident Singi Reddy Jaihind Reddy for Rs. 9.50 lakhs.
The bidding this year started at around 10 am with a minimum bid amount of Rs 116. A total of 24 people participated in the auction, but the main competition was between Madan Mohan Reddy and Srinivas Reddy. After the bidding amount crossed Rs 9.50 lakhs, both kept increasing their bids by a few thousands each time, and ultimately Madan Mohan Reddy bagged the laddu for Rs 10.32 lakhs amid wild applause from the devotees who were present in large numbers.
A non-resident Indian also participated in the auction.
Earlier, after special pujas in the morning, the Balapur Ganesh was taken in a procession followed by ardent devotees. Telangana Transport Minister Mahendar Reddy, former Hyderabad Mayor and MLA Teegala Krishna Reddy, MLC Ramchandar Rao, Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Committee president Bhagvanth Rao and others visited the Balapur Ganesh.
After the laddu auction, the Utsav committee members felicitated Madan Mohan Reddy. They also presented him two kilograms of silver along with the laddu.
Police had made elaborate bandobust for the occasion.
The Balapur Ganesh Utsav Samithi was formed in 1980, and has been conducting the deity's navaratri celebrations annually. The tradition of the auctioning of the Balapur Ganesh laddu has been taking place since the early years of the formation of the Ganesh Utsav Committee. The bid amount has been rising with each year. Starting from Rs 450 in 1994, it increased to Rs 4,500 in 1995, Rs 18,000 in 1996, Rs 28,000 in 1997, Rs 51,000 in 1998, Rs 65,000 in 1999, Rs 66,000 in 2000, Rs 85,000 in 2001, Rs 1.05 lakhs in 2002, Rs 1.55 lakhs in 2003, Rs 2.01 lakhs in 2004, Rs 2.08 lakhs in 2005, Rs 3 lakhs in 2006, Rs 4.15 lakhs in 2007, Rs 5.07 lakhs in 2008, Rs 5.10 lakhs in 2009, Rs 5.35 lakhs in 2010, Rs 5.45 lakhs in 2011, Rs 7.5 lakhs in 2012, Rs. 9.26 lakhs in 2013, Rs. 9.50 lakhs in 2014 and Rs. 10.32 lakhs this year.