Hyderabad: The festive offering of laddu at Keerthi Richmond Villas in Bandlaguda, Hyderabad, was sold for ₹1,87,36,500 or ₹1.87 crore in an auction held late on Monday night, September 16. This marks an increase of ₹61 lakh from previous year’s price, where the laddu was auctioned for ₹1.26 crore. The laddu weighs 5 kg.
“Over 100 villa owners, from diverse religious backgrounds, took part in the auction, which received more than 400 bids. This unique charity auction, held annually during the Ganapati festivities, is a heartwarming and exemplary initiative to support the underprivileged,” said Abhay Deshpande, a managing trustee of the gated community.
The crowdfunding efforts benefit more than 42 NGOs, underprivileged school children, and medical aid for those in need. “All work by RV Diya Charitable Trust is carried out by volunteers with zero administrative costs. Every rupee raised directly contributes to creating a tangible impact on the lives of those we serve,” added Mr. Deshpande.”
In recent years, the Keerthi Richmond Villas laddu has earned the distinction of being the most expensive at the state’s Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. The auction started in 2019 with the laddu fetching ₹18.75 lakh, followed by ₹27.3 lakh in 2020, ₹41 lakh in 2021, ₹60 lakh in 2022, and an impressive ₹1.26 crore in 2023.