15 September,2026 10:59 PM IST | Jalna | mid-day online correspondent
A 108-kg silver idol of Lord Ganesh, coated with gold and valued at around Rs 4 crore in Jalna (Pic/PTI)
Amid the Ganeshotsav 2026, a 108-kg silver idol of Lord Ganesh, coated with gold and valued at around Rs 4 crore, has been installed with religious fervour at a pandal in Jalna city of Maharashtra. The 12-day festival began on Ganesh Chaturthi on Monday.
Anokha Ganesh Mandal founder president Ajay Bhartiya while talking to the media on Tuesday, said, "The idol was originally carved in 2023 using 107 kg of silver. Over the past four years, the value of the silver has increased, and the pandal has also added 50 tola of gold to the idol, taking its present weight to 108 kg and its estimated value to around Rs 4 crore," as cited by PTI.
Mandal president Ritesh Mishra said this year's celebrations will feature decorative tableaux and other attractions for devotees and families.
He also added, "The iconic idol in Jalna is kept at a secure location throughout the year and is brought out and installed at the mandal premises during the Ganesh festival," as per PTI.
On the second day of Ganeshotsav 2026, members of the Lalbaugcha Raja committee opened the donation boxes at the pandal for the first time.
The committee also opened the specially designated gold and silver donation boxes.
As per IANS, the opening of the boxes revealed a range of offerings made by devotees who visited Lalbaugcha Raja during the festival. Among the donations were gold and silver ornaments, diamond jewellery and garlands made with dollar notes.
The donation boxes were opened in the presence of committee members as the offerings made by devotees were taken out for counting and further processing. However, the gold and silver offerings were kept separately as part of the process.
Lalbaugcha Raja attracts lakhs of devotees during Ganeshotsav, with people from Mumbai and across the country visiting the iconic pandal to seek the blessings of Bappa.
Devotees traditionally offer jewellery, precious metals and other valuables as part of their prayers and thanksgiving.
(With inputs from PTI and IANS)
