This will be diamond Bappa’s last darshan in Surat

SURAT: Devotees of the diamond Bappa are going to be disappointed. The rough-diamond Ganesha, weighing 27.24 carats and having height and width of 24 mm and 17 mm, respectively, will no more be displayed during Ganesh Chaturthi in the city.
Concerned over security of this valuable Ganesha-shaped rough diamond and ongoing recession in the world’s largest diamond cutting and polishing centre in Surat, its owner Rajesh Pandav, a diamond manufacturer, has decided to display it one last time. Since 2005, devotees in the diamond hub of Katargam and nearby areas would visit Pandav’s house in Dangidev Society on Balashram road to have darshan of the diamond.
“The diamond industry is passing through turbulent times and it is a big challenge for us to protect the Ganesha-shaped rough diamond from unscrupulous elements,” said Pandav, who had purchased it in 2004. “Only acquaintances will be allowed this time for darshan and that too only for two days,” added Pandav.
For almost 15 years, Pandav and his family have preserved the Bappa in its original form. The Pandav family received many offers from diamantaires in Surat, Antwerp, Israel and other centres, but they had refused. “This Ganesha-shaped diamond is rare and our family’s biggest treasure. I had got several offers ranging from Rs 400 crore to Rs 500 crore for it, but am unwilling to sell it,” said Pandav.
The diamond was found in Muzi mine in Congo and could fetch more than Rs 400 crore in the market. Pandav had bought it from a local dealer for Rs 30,000.
“It is a question of our faith and our family has been receiving the blessings of Ganesha for the past 15 years. With just a few CCTV cameras, we can’t ensure the safety of this highly valuable diamond. My family members are quite worried about its security,” said Pandav, who has decided to keep the stone in the safe deposit vault on Tuesday.
“We will offer prayers to Bappa until Tuesday. On immersion day, we will bring water of the Tapi river to our house and sprinkle it on the stone and then again keep it in the safe vault,” Pandav added.