Balapur Ganesh Laddu: Balapur Ganesh Laddu Fetches Record ₹39 Lakh at Auction

Balapur Ganesh Laddu: The famous Balapur Ganesh laddu auction in Hyderabad has once again attracted attention after the sacred offering fetched a record ₹39 lakh. Sama Praneeth Reddy from Sahebnagar in Vanasthalipuram won the bidding this year.

Eight people registered to take part in the auction, but the final bid went in favour of Praneeth Reddy. His ₹39 lakh offer is ₹4 lakh higher than last year’s ₹35 lakh bid, setting a new record for the popular Ganesh festival tradition.

The Balapur laddu holds a special place among Hyderabad’s Ganesh celebrations. Devotees believe that receiving the laddu, which is offered to Lord Ganesha after the nine-day festivities, brings prosperity, happiness and good fortune. The belief has made the annual auction a major attraction.

The auction tradition dates back to 1994, when farmer Kolan Mohan Reddy bought the laddu for just ₹450. He reportedly shared the prasadam with family members and relatives and also sprinkled a portion in his fields. His family later continued to participate in the auction on several occasions.

The auction gradually grew beyond the local community. For the first several years, participation was largely restricted to residents of Balapur, but the rules were later opened to people from outside the area as well. In 2009, Saritha became the first woman to win the auction, paying ₹5.10 lakh.

The auction was not conducted in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the laddu was instead presented to then Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. The price crossed ₹30 lakh in 2024, when Kolan Shankar Reddy secured it for ₹30.01 lakh. Last year, Lingala Dasharath Goud raised the bid to ₹35 lakh.

With this year’s ₹39 lakh bid, the Balapur laddu has continued its remarkable journey from ₹450 in 1994 to one of Hyderabad’s most closely watched Ganesh auction traditions.