Mumbai: Devotee offers gold Ganesh and Lakshmi idols at Lalbaugcha Raja Ganpati

A devotee has offered Ganesh and Lakhsmi idols made of gold at the famous Lalbaugcha Raja Ganpati in Mumbai. Together, the idols weigh around 1 kilogram and over 100 grams. Worth around Rs 31.51 lakh, it is already one of the big offerings made here this year.

Lalbaughcha Raja sees thousands of followers queue up every day for darshan in Mumbai during the festive season.  

"It is true," said Balasaheb Kamble, president of the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshutsav Mandal. "Both the idols were put in the hundi by a devotee on the first day. But we do not know the devotee's identity. This is the biggest offering so far, this year," said Mahesh Jadhav, treasurer of the Mandal. 

Each year, Lalbaugcha Raja auctions the offering and uses the money for welfare activities. "Last year's collection was around Rs 6.75 crores," said Jadhav.