Skip to content Skip to left sidebar Skip to right sidebar Skip to footer

Tag: Ganesh Festival

Balapur Ganesh Laddu Fetches Record Rs 39 Lakh in Auction

Hyderabad: The famous Balapur Ganesh laddu auction 2026 has created a new record, with the 21-kg laddu fetching Rs 39 lakh in an open auction held on Friday, September 25.

City-based entrepreneur S. Praneet Reddy emerged as the successful bidder for the iconic Balapur Ganesh laddu. The auction was held in Balapur, on the southern outskirts of Hyderabad, before the traditional Ganesh immersion procession.

Balapur Ganesh Laddu Sold for Rs 39 Lakh

The Balapur Ganesh laddu auction attracted eight bidders this year. The annual auction is one of the most popular traditions associated with Hyderabad’s Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.

Devotees and bidders believe that the Balapur laddu brings prosperity and good fortune to the person who wins the auction. The winner traditionally shares pieces of the laddu with family and friends and also distributes or preserves portions of it at homes, businesses and agricultural fields.

Balapur Laddu Auction Price Rises Every Year

The Balapur laddu auction has witnessed a significant rise in its price over the years. The tradition began in 1994, when the laddu was sold for just Rs 450.

Kolanu Mohan Reddy won the first auction in 1994 and reportedly remained the successful bidder for five consecutive years. His claims of prosperity after winning the auction helped increase the popularity of the Balapur Ganesh laddu.

Since then, the auction has become an important part of the Ganesh Chaturthi festivities in Hyderabad.

Previous Balapur Ganesh Laddu Auction Records

The Balapur Ganesh laddu has continued to attract high bids in recent years.

  • 1994: Rs 450
  • 2024: Rs 30.01 lakh
  • 2025: Rs 35 lakh
  • 2026: Rs 39 lakh

The latest Rs 39 lakh Balapur laddu auction has set a new record.

Balapur Ganesh Immersion Procession

The annual laddu auction marks the beginning of the traditional Ganesh immersion procession from Balapur. The procession passes through several parts of Hyderabad before reaching Hussain Sagar Lake.

The Balapur Ganesh celebrations have a history of around 45 years, while the laddu auction tradition has continued since 1994.

History of the Balapur Ganesh Laddu Auction

For the first 15 years, the auction was restricted to local residents. The organisers later opened the auction to people from other areas, increasing participation and the popularity of the tradition.

According to the Balapur Ganesh Utsav Samithi, the auction has been conducted 31 times so far. The auction was not held in 2020 because of the COVID-19 situation. During that year, the organisers presented the laddu to then Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

Why Is the Balapur Laddu So Popular?

The Balapur Ganesh laddu has gained popularity because of the belief that it brings prosperity and good fortune. Businessmen and other participants have traditionally competed to win the auction.

The laddu is not only considered a religious offering but has also become an important symbol of Hyderabad’s Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.

With Rs 39 lakh, the 2026 Balapur Ganesh laddu auction has once again highlighted the unique tradition and growing popularity of the famous Hyderabad Ganesh festival.

Hyderabad gears up for massive Ganesh immersion with 20,000 police personnel

Hyderabad is set for the final Ganesh idol immersion procession, with authorities deploying a large-scale security and crowd-management operation across the city.

Nearly 20,000 police personnel, more than 10,000 CCTV cameras and 24 drones will be used to monitor the procession and manage the movement of lakhs of devotees and thousands of idols arriving from Hyderabad, Cyberabad, Malkajgiri, Future City and neighbouring districts.

The Khairatabad Ganesh idol has already drawn around 25 lakh visitors, while nearly 15 lakh devotees have visited the Balapur Ganesh idol. Security has been strengthened at both locations ahead of the final immersion.

Preparations for the event began nearly three months ago. Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar held coordination meetings with government departments, festival organisers, idol makers and peace committees to streamline arrangements.

Police said 15,426 applications were received through the online Ganesh pandal permission system, with 14,929 permissions granted following physical verification. Approved pandals have been geo-tagged, while safety instructions covering fire and electrical risks have been displayed in bilingual posters.

By Wednesday, 32,878 idols had been immersed across Hyderabad and surrounding areas, including 6,108 within Hyderabad city limits.

The city’s surveillance network has been linked to the Telangana State Police Integrated Command and Control Centre (TGICCC) in Banjara Hills. In addition to the CCTV network, nearly 100 high-rise cameras will monitor crowd density and movement along key procession routes.

Police teams equipped with binoculars and wireless communication devices have been stationed on rooftops. Round-the-clock control rooms have been established at NTR Marg, People’s Plaza, Necklace Road and Moghalpura Sports Complex, with senior officials coordinating operations.

Emergency-response arrangements include rescue boats and expert divers from the Indian Army and Tourism Department at major water bodies. Ambulances, paramedical teams, fire tenders, generators and watchtowers have also been positioned at strategic locations. Mechanics and backup drivers will be available at key junctions to address vehicle breakdowns.

The police deployment includes personnel from the Law and Order, Traffic, Task Force, Special Branch, City Security Wing and City Armed Reserve units. An additional 8,142 personnel from other districts, organised into 42 platoons, have been assigned to seven security zones.

Four companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed in Charminar, Golconda, Rajendranagar and Shamshabad, while two companies of the Central Armed Reserve Force (CRPF) are stationed in Khairatabad and Secunderabad.

Security checks are also being carried out by 53 bomb detection teams at procession routes, entry points, railway stations, bus terminals and shopping malls.

Authorities have prohibited DJ systems, sound mixers, high-decibel audio equipment and firecrackers during the procession in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines on noise pollution and public health. Police warned that violations could result in seizure of equipment and legal action.

Hyderabad City Security Council Invites Traffic Farishtey Volunteers for Ganesh Visarjan Bandobast 2026

Citizens Encouraged to Join Hands with HCSC and Hyderabad Police for Safe and Hassle-Free Ganesh Visarjan

The Hyderabad City Security Council (HCSC) has invited citizens to join the Traffic Farishtey volunteer initiative as part of the Ganesh Visarjan Bandobast 2026. The programme aims to bring together responsible citizens and volunteers to support the police and civic authorities in managing traffic, crowds and devotee movement during the city’s major Ganesh immersion celebrations.

Ganesh Visarjan is one of Hyderabad’s most significant annual religious and cultural events, attracting thousands of devotees, large idol processions and heavy vehicular movement across several parts of the city. With immersion processions continuing from afternoon into the night, effective traffic management and crowd coordination become essential to ensure that devotees can participate in the celebrations safely while regular commuters are also able to move through the city with minimum inconvenience.

Through the Traffic Farishtey initiative, HCSC is encouraging citizens to actively contribute to the safe conduct of the celebrations by volunteering at designated locations and immersion routes across Hyderabad.

Volunteers to Support Traffic and Crowd Management

Traffic Farishtey volunteers will assist in several important areas during the Ganesh Visarjan bandobast. Their responsibilities will primarily include traffic management, crowd control and devotee assistance.

Volunteers may be deployed at strategic points along immersion routes where large gatherings and procession movements are expected. They will help guide devotees, support orderly movement of crowds and assist in maintaining smooth traffic flow in coordination with police personnel.

Their role will also include helping devotees with basic guidance and coordinating with the concerned police personnel whenever necessary. Volunteers will not replace the duties of police officers but will work alongside them as responsible community members to support the overall arrangements.

Key Areas of Volunteer Support

Traffic Farishtey volunteers can contribute by:

  • Assisting devotees during Ganesh idol processions and immersion activities
  • Helping manage crowds at busy locations
  • Supporting smooth traffic movement along immersion routes
  • Guiding people and vehicles at designated points
  • Helping reduce congestion around major gathering areas
  • Coordinating with police personnel and following their instructions
  • Supporting orderly movement of devotees and procession groups
  • Helping create a safe and disciplined environment throughout the celebrations

Afternoon-to-Night Duty Across Hyderabad

According to the HCSC invitation, volunteer duties will be carried out from afternoon to night, depending on the assigned location and operational requirements. Volunteers may be assigned across various Ganesh immersion routes in Hyderabad.

A detailed volunteer briefing and duty-related information will be shared soon with registered participants. The briefing is expected to provide volunteers with information about their assigned locations, responsibilities, reporting procedures and coordination with the concerned teams.

Volunteers are expected to follow the instructions given during the briefing and cooperate closely with police personnel and other officials throughout their duty.

Volunteer Benefits

As part of the initiative, registered volunteers will receive certain support facilities for their duty. These include a temporary ID card, T-shirt and food.

The temporary ID card will help identify registered volunteers during their assigned duty, while the T-shirt will help distinguish the volunteer team and make coordination easier at crowded locations.

Who Can Participate?

Citizens who are willing to contribute their time and support the safe conduct of Ganesh Visarjan celebrations can register as Traffic Farishtey volunteers.

The initiative provides an opportunity for members of the community to participate in public service and contribute to Hyderabad’s safety and traffic management efforts during one of the city’s busiest festive occasions.

Volunteers are expected to be responsible, cooperative and willing to follow instructions from the police and coordinating authorities.

How to Register

Interested volunteers can register by scanning the QR code provided in the HCSC invitation poster and completing the Google Form.

The registration form requires basic details, including:

Name | Mobile Number | Zone Preference

Volunteers are encouraged to provide accurate contact information and indicate their preferred zone so that the coordinating team can plan deployment and communication accordingly.

A Community Effort for a Safer Celebration

The Ganesh Visarjan celebrations involve large numbers of devotees, processions, vehicles and public gatherings. Ensuring safety during such a large-scale event requires cooperation between the police, civic authorities, organisers and the public.

Community volunteers can play a valuable supporting role by assisting with crowd movement, helping devotees and cooperating with traffic and police personnel. Their presence can also help spread awareness about responsible movement and encourage people to follow safety and traffic instructions.

The HCSC’s Traffic Farishtey initiative therefore provides an opportunity for citizens to contribute directly to the city’s public-safety efforts while becoming part of the arrangements for a peaceful and well-organised Ganesh Visarjan.

Join the Mission

HCSC is calling upon responsible citizens to step forward and become part of the Ganesh Visarjan Bandobast 2026 volunteer team.

By giving a few hours of their time and working in coordination with the authorities, volunteers can help make the immersion process safer, smoother and more organised for thousands of devotees and commuters across Hyderabad.

Register today, support the city and be a Traffic Farishtey.

Together, let’s celebrate responsibly and make Ganesh Visarjan 2026 safe, peaceful and hassle-free for everyone.

Jai Shri Ganesha! 🙏