Mumbai: Thursday saw the annual auction of gold and silver offerings made to the Lalbaugcha Raja Ganeshotsav mandal during the festival. A splash of large and small maces, modaks, necklaces, Ganesh idols, mooshak (mouse), ‘samaii’ (oil lamps), finger rings and other ornaments were among the items that went under the hammer.These items are donated as thanksgiving or tokens of wish fulfilment. Other devotees purchase these offerings as a sign of good luck and a favourable omen.This year too the mandal’s cash box collected lakhs of rupees owing to devotees’ largesse. The special hundi installed for worshipers to deposit gold bars and coins, artefacts and jewellery also filled fast. On Sept 11, the rate of 24-carat gold was Rs 1,10,000 per 10gm while silver cost Rs 1,24,000 per kg.In 2024, the annual auction had earned the mandal a sum of Rs 2.35 crore. The highlight was a 1kg gold brick that sold for Rs 75.9 lakh. A large gold necklace weighing nearly the same, went for Rs 74 lakh. The cash amounted to Rs 5.65 crore, taking its Ganeshotsav 2024 earnings to Rs 8 crore. At the time the rate of 24-carat gold was Rs 74,000 per 10gm. Silver stood at Rs 89,000 per kg.
