All eyes on Balapur Laddu

Balapur: Every year, the famous 'laddu' of Balapur Ganesh sets new record, with the bidding scaling up ever. The last year, marking the silver jubilee celebrations of this tradition, the laddu was picked up in open auction for the highest bid of Rs 16.6 lakh and this year it is all set for another highest record and it is being speculated that it will touch Rs 20 lakh.

During the Ganesh festivities, Balapur Ganesh and its laddu are famous next only to Khairtabad Ganesh. The laddu's exclusive auction is conducted every year in Balapur village. The 21-kg laddu started attracting more and more bidders with each year.

It was auctioned for Rs 450 in 1994, when K Mohan Reddy, a farmer won the laddu in the first auction. While in the latest auction (2018), the laddu was picked up at a record bid price of Rs 16.6 lakh by Teretipalli Srinivas Gupta, the president of Balapur Mandal Arya Vaishya Sangam. This year it is expected to touch around Rs 20 lakh.

The process of bidding starts with the registration of bidders, which will take place on the 9th and the 10th days. Around 300 bidders generally register their names. On 11th day, which falls this year on Thursday, September 11, the auction starts from Rs 1,116. "This year the laddu will be auctioned for more amount when compared to the previous year, as each year the bidding touches new high.

The 21-kg laddu is sponsored by Honey Foods located at ECIL, which is prepared with mixed dry fruits. The 21-kg laddu is kept in a 2-kg bowl made up of pure silver," said K Niranjan Reddy, president, Balapur Ganesh Utsava Simithi.

He also said that for the last 25 years about Rs 50 lakh were received through bidding and was utilised for the developmental activities in Balapur village and social activities.

This year a Ganesh idol with eye-blinking and movable ears features at a height of around 20 feet was made by Laxmi Narayan Singh, an artist from Dhoolpet. The mandap is also specially made, representing the Yadgirigutta temple.