Faith’s sweet stakes: Hyderabad’s Ganesh laddus command crores in epic auctions
Blending devotion with dazzling bids, these blessed treats turn festivals into fortune-filled spectacles, funding charity while fueling community rivalries
Hyderabad, September 6, 2025 – Amid the rhythmic beats of drums and the aroma of incense during Ganesh Chaturthi, Hyderabad transforms into a battleground not of swords, but of bids – where ordinary laddus ascend to extraordinary status, fetching sums that could buy mansions. These auctions, far from mere sales, weave tales of belief, bravado, and benevolence, proving that in this city, piety packs a pricey punch.
Take the scene at Keerthi Richmond Villas in Bandlaguda: a 10-kg laddu, revered for 10 days at the deity’s feet, ignited a bidding bonanza among over 80 residents grouped into fierce teams. After 500-plus offers in a nail-biting 2.5-hour saga, it sold for a record-smashing ₹2.32 crore – eclipsing last year’s ₹1.87 crore by ₹45 lakh. “It’s all about unity and upliftment,” shares a community leader, noting every penny fuels local charities, from NGOs to direct aid, with no cuts for costs.
Echoing this fervor, the storied Balapur Ganesh laddu – a 21-kg behemoth – drew cheers from rooftop onlookers as it hammered at ₹35 lakh, up from ₹31 lakh the previous year. Since its humble ₹450 start in 1994, this ritual has ballooned, embodying luck and legacy; winners often scatter crumbs in farms or firms for flourishing futures.
Not to be outdone, My Home Bhooja Apartments saw their laddu soar to ₹51.5 lakh, while neighborhood events inspired by Balapur’s pioneer add to the citywide craze. Devotees swear by the laddus’ mystical might – banishing barriers like Ganesh himself, with portions shared as sacred prasad to spread prosperity.
As 1.7 lakh idols plunge into waters amid 40-hour processions, backed by 30,000 cops and cranes galore, these auctions steal the show. They spotlight how Hyderabad’s festivals fuse ancient adoration with contemporary competition, turning sweets into symbols of status and goodwill. In a world chasing gold, here faith proves infinitely richer – one delectable, divine deal at a time.
