In Hyderabad, Ganesh Chaturthi comes with the usual grand idols, dhols, decorations and modaks. But there is another annual ritual that gets the city talking: Ganesh laddu auctions. And no, these are not your average sweets being sold by the kilo.
Hyderabad’s Ganesh Laddu Auctions Are Back With A ₹1.01 Crore Bid
This year, a 5-kg Ganesh laddu at Keerthi Richmond Villas in Bandlaguda Jagir sold for a jaw-dropping ₹1.01 crore. According to The Hindu, the winning bid was placed by the Shaktiman group, a collective of residents who came together to take home the sacred prasadam. The auction took place on September 22, ahead of the usual final day of the festival.
At first glance, paying ₹1.01 crore for 5 kg of laddu sounds like the kind of twist that belongs in a Bollywood film. But the laddus are not being bought for their sugar, ghee or besan. Devotees consider the auctioned laddu prasadam associated with Lord Ganesha’s blessings, prosperity and good fortune. The winning bid is also not simply a personal purchase. At Richmond Villas, residents traditionally pool money in groups and compete in the auction, turning the celebration into a community-led fundraiser.
And there is a meaningful reason behind those enormous numbers. The entire amount raised at Keerthi Richmond Villas goes towards charitable initiatives through the RV Diya Charitable Trust, with the trust stating that no administrative fee is deducted from the auction contributions. During 2025-26, the trust said it spent ₹1.66 crore on programmes supporting more than 750 students and children, over 150 patients, more than 300 people through training initiatives and more than 100 animals. It also works with NGOs, old-age homes and other charitable organisations.
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Balapur Ganesh Laddu Auction Also Draws Massive Bids
Richmond Villas is not the only Hyderabad community where laddus have developed a seriously expensive fan club.
On September 25, the Balapur Ganesh laddu was auctioned for ₹39 lakh, with Sama Praneeth Reddy securing the winning bid. The Balapur tradition dates back to 1994, when the laddu was bought for just ₹450. The auction crossed ₹1 lakh in 2002 and ₹10 lakh in 2015, before reaching ₹30.01 lakh in 2024 and ₹35 lakh in 2025.
Other Hyderabad communities joined the bidding frenzy too. The Kohinoor by Auro Realty recorded ₹30.50 lakh, My Home Bhooja saw ₹25 lakh, while My Home Mangala reached ₹21.11 lakh.
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So yes, Hyderabad has managed to make a laddu worth crores. But beneath the eye-watering bids is something far more interesting: a festive tradition where faith, neighbourhood camaraderie and philanthropy all end up on the same auction table.
Cover Image Courtesy: sonikaagarwal/Canva Pro
FAQs
What is the Hyderabad Ganesh laddu auction?
Ganesh laddu auctions are an annual tradition in several Hyderabad communities during Ganesh Chaturthi, where devotees bid for the laddu offered as prasadam.