Lalbaugcha Raja sees less ‘cash’ offerings this year on account of slowdown, rains
While gold and silver offerings remained at par with previous years, cash offerings fell by almost Rs 50 lakh this year on account of economic slowdown and heavy rains
The slowing economy has had a cascading effect on Mumbai’s iconic Lalbaugcha Raja, which saw a sizeable dip in cash offerings this year.
The Lalbaugcha Raja Ganeshotsav Mandal, responsible for the city’s most famed Ganesh idol, concluded its annual auction of offerings by devotees on Monday. The earnings from the auction crossed Rs 1.25 crore.
The most expensive items sold in the auction were a gold thali set, which netted Rs 43 lakh, and a 1 kg gold bar, which fetched Rs 39.5 lakh.
While the gold and silver offerings remained at par with previous years, there was a dip in cash offerings this year.
“The cash received in offerings to Lord Ganesha were Rs 6,05,00,000 while in the previous year it was Rs 6,55,00,000. It is a difference of Rs 50 lakh from the previous year and the economic slowdown might be one of the cause,” Sudhir Salvi, Secretary of Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal was quoted as saying.
In addition to the slowdown, the continuous downpour may have also played a role.
Devotees offered around 4.2 kg of gold and 80 kg of silver, including a 5 kg silver mace and 1kg gold biscuits, Salvi said.
