The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : 7.22 lakhs for laddu at Maheswaram

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 07, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

7.22 lakhs for laddu at Maheswaram

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: In an apparent reflection of the real estate boom, auction of `laddus' offered to Ganesh idols installed at some areas on the city outskirts fetched mindboggling amounts.

Last year when someone offered Rs. 2.08 lakhs in the auction for Balapur Ganesh laddu, people were surprised. But the auction of a laddu at Maheswaram on the city fringes fetching Rs. 7.22 lakhs left everyone stunned this year.

Religious sentiment

"More than money it is the religious sentiment. But a laddu securing such a staggering amount made us proud though the flourishing real estate business is an obvious reason," a local, Srinivasa Rao said.

Though less by a lakh compared to Maheswaram, the laddu of Ganesh at Badangipet brought in an astonishing amount of Rs. 6.25 lakhs. In Chevella, the laddu was bought for more than Rs. 5 lakhs.

Even more interesting was the auction of a laddu at MLR Colony near Balapur crossroads where locals installed a Ganesh idol for the first time this year. "Taking cue from the Balapur Ganesh, we decided to put the laddu for sale and made a small one with just ten rupees," said an organiser Krishna.

They began the auction with Rs. 50. And a realtor's wife Sarita bagged it for Rs. 2,250.

Impressive processions

Impressive processions of Ganesh idols were taken out in many areas on the fringes of the State capital on Wednesday.

With vast open lands creating enough parking spaces for any number of vehicles, thousands of families thronged these immersion points to witness the idol processions.

By 10 p.m., 1,344 idols were immersed in Saroornagar tank followed by 530 idols in Rajendrangar Palle Cheruvu, Dundigal - 230, IDL tank at Kukatpally - 180, Safilguda tank - 96, Gangavaram tank in Balanagar - 94, Suraram tank in Jeedimetla - 75, Kapra tank - 87, Hasmathpet and Shameerpet tanks - 46 and Medchal tank - 54.

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