Surat: For the residents in Katargam, it’s the only Bappa (Ganesha) for whom they need to take prior appointment for darshan. The reason is it happens to be a natural rough diamond in the shape of Lord Ganesha.
Owned by Rajesh Pandav, a diamond trader operating at Varachha diamond market, this rough diamond Ganesha weighs 27.24 carat and was purchased by him way back in 2005. The rough diamond was mined in Congo and purchased by Pandav in 2005 for Rs30,000.
Pandav told TOI, “Every year we install the rough diamond Ganesha at our house and residents from our society and surrounding areas come for darshan. I had bought this Ganesha- shaped diamond in 2005 for Rs30,000. At present, this rough diamond could fetch me Rs300 crore, but I am not selling it.”
Diamond barons and many merchants in the market have offered to purchase this Ganesha-shaped diamond. They are offering Pandav any amount, but he is not interested to sell the Bappa because it has brought him prosperity.
“I am unable to fix the price for this diamond Ganesha and do not want to sell it to anyone,” says Pandav.
The Ganesha diamond has height of 24 millimetre and its width is 17 millimetre.
The Pandav family performs puja of the rough diamond Ganesha for 10 days. The Ganesha is not immersed in the river, but the family sprinkles Tapi river water on the diamond and place the idol in the safe deposit vault.
“We pray for 10 days to Bappa. On the immersion day, we take out the procession from our house to sprinkle Tapi water on the idol. We bring back the idol to our house and later keep it at the safe deposit vault. Next year, again we will take out the diamond Ganesha and install it in our house for the puja,” Pandav said.
The 27 carat rough diamond in the shape of Lord Ganesha
