Balapur Ganesh Pandal is one of the famous Ganapathi Pandals in Hyderabad. In 2014, Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations have begun on 29 August and will end on September 8 with Ganapathi Nimajjanam.
It was first established in 1980 and was the first ganesh pandal to introduce Ganesh laddu auction in the world. For 2014 Ganesh Chaturthi, the mandapam is decorated with a setting of a grand temple.
Balapur Ganesh Utsava Samithi Ganesha is also revered as first honored Ganapathi (Praramba Grama Vinayakudu) in Hyderabad. It leads the Ganesh nimmajjanam procession in the city. Balapur Ganapathi is the second popular Ganesh Mandal in Hyderabad after Khairatabad Ganesh idol.
Since, the first year Ganesh utsavam, the popularity of Balapur Ganesh mandal has been increasing year by year. The mandal is also honored with another name – ‘Adhi Vinayaka’.
Balapur Ganesh mandal has made it to limelight nationwide when they have started laddu auction in 1994. That year, the laddu was auctioned for Rs 450. Since then the price of laddu auction has been increasing substantially.
In 2013, Balapur laddu auction price was Rs 9,26,000. A part of laddu is distributed among devotees, and the remaining laddu is sprinkled in fields (farms) of the devotee who gets the laddu in auction for better crop. All the devotees who had won the laddu in auction were benefitted hugely, hence it has become more and more popular.
