Telangana: Crowdfunding fetches Rs 60 lakh for Sun City laddu

HYDERABAD: A Ganesh laddu weighing five kilograms which was auctioned on the eleventh day of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at Keerthi Richmond Villas in Rajendranagar's Sun City, has set an all-time record for laddu auctions.
The Sun City laddu, which was crowdfunded by the residents of Richmond Villas fetched 60.80 lakh and became the most-expensive laddu ever in open auctions replacing the Kanajiguda laddu (46.90 lakh), which dethroned the famed Balapur 'Bangaru laddu' (24.60 lakh) from its pedestal.
Over 200 residents of the gated community took part in the auction and raised 60.80 lakh for charity by bidding among themselves, after performing rituals on the last day of the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.
While many laddu auctions are held by various pandals in and around the city, Sun City laddu has its own craze and significance and this year was no different, said Dr Archana Sinha and Poornima Deshpande, managing trustees, Keethi Richmond Villas.
Not sparing the Covid pandemic in 2021, the Sun City laddu fetched 41 lakh, while in 2020, the laddu was auctioned for 27.30 lakh.
"The auction was part of the annual fund raiser activity taken-up by RV Diya Charitable Trust for the benefit of maids, drivers, gardeners and labourers in the vicinity of the gated community," Abhay Deshpande, another trustee told TOI.
The laddu prasadam will be distributed amongst all the residents of villas, Deshpande added.