05 September,2014 08:27 AM IST | | Chetna Sadadekar
Mandals across Mumbai received large donations in cash, gold and silver by the end of the seventh day of Ganeshotsav
The donation boxes of Ganesh mandals in the city are getting heavier every day. Devotees recently gifted a Vaijanti Mala and a hibiscus flower, made of gold, at the GSB Seva mandal.
Lalbaugcha Raja has already seen more than Rs 4.16 crore in cash donations, along with 4 kg gold and 50 kg silver. Mumbaicha Raja (Ganesh Galli) mandal has so far collected Rs 25 lakh in cash, and Andhericha Raja has received a 3-kg silver foot for the idol.
Last year, the 11-day cash collection of Lalbaugcha Raja was around R7.66 crore. The mandal keeps seven donation boxes in the vicinity, two on the stage and five along the queues, which are emptied on a daily basis. The amount collected in cash is deposited in the bank immediately after counting, while cheques will be taken out only on the last day of the festival, after the immersion.
The city's richest mandal, GSB Seva mandal, on the other hand, counts all the cash only at the end of the festival. However, by the end of the seventh day, a devotee had gifted a Vaijanti Mala, made out of 2.5 kg gold and 12 kg silver, along with a hibiscus flower made out of 150 gram of gold.
Mumbaicha Raja is still waiting for a big donation, and while their cash collection has already crossed R25 lakh, they will only open the gold and silver donation boxes after the immersion. A devotee gifted a foot made of 3 kg silver to Andhericha Raja after his wish was fulfilled.
Unusual donations in the past
>> 1 kg gold bar worth Rs 28 lakh
>> 610 gram gold necklace worth Rs 17 lakh
>> Wrist watch, valued at Rs 2.25 lakh
>> A diamond, worth Rs 6.5 lakh
Mandal speak
Mahesh Jadhav, Treasurer of Lalbaugcha Raja Ganeshotsav mandal
We are receiving huge donations every day. Until now, we have received about 4 kg gold in the last seven days of the festival. Like every year, the gold and silver will be auctioned after the festival.
Swapnil Parab, Secretary of Mumbaicha Raja (Ganesh Galli)
Till now, our mandal has collected about Rs 25 lakh in cash. We will open the gold and silver boxes after the festival.
