Devotee gifts Rs 31.5L worth gold idol to Lalbaugcha Raja

Lalbaugcha Raja, Mumbai’s most popular Ganapati idol, sees devotees pour in in thousands every year during the annual Ganeshotsav. From fruits and flowers to cash and gold, a mind-boggling plethora of offerings are made to the idol. This year, a devotee has already grabbed eyeballs by offering a Ganesha and Lakhsmi idol made of gold to the ‘Raja of Lalbaug’. Together, they weigh a little over 1 kg. Within just a day since the commencement of the festival, this is being touted as the most note-worthy offering made this year.

“It is true,” said Balasaheb Kamble, president of the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal. Together they are expected to value around Rs 31.51 lakh. “Both were put in the hundi by a devotee on the first day itself. We do not know who he/ she is yet. We noticed it while scanning through the offerings. Last year, a pair of gold feet was offered by a devotee,” said Mahesh Jadhav, treasurer of the mandal.

Each year, Lalbaugcha Raja auctions the offering and uses the money for welfare activities. “Last year’s collection was around Rs 6.75 crores, which was before the gold and silver items received were auctioned. Total collection after the auction …read more