Mumbai: Thursday’s auction of gold and silver offerings made to the Lalbaugcha Raja Ganeshotsav Mandal during this year’s festival earned the mandal Rs 1.65 crore. A 10 tola gold bar sold for Rs 11.3 lakh while a gold necklace weighing approximately the same, sold for Rs 10 lakh, said mandal treasurer Mangesh Dalvi. A total of 108 items were auctioned.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. A few items remain that will be sold later to devotees at market rate without levying making charges. 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. 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 10 gm while silver cost Rs 1,24,000 per kg. The 2024 auction had earned the mandal Rs 2.35 crore. The cash amounted to Rs 5.65 crore last year.
