Lalbaugcha Raja gets Rs1.1lakh in old notes; collection so far Rs5.8 crore cash, 5.5kg gold, 70kg silver

The counting will be completed by Friday, after which the mandal will auction the items on Saturday.

As the coffers of the Lalbaugcha Raja in Parel, Mumbai’s most visited pandal, were opened on Thursday evening , the organisers found Rs1,10,000 in demonetised Rs1,000 notes.

Members of the Labaugcha Raja mandal show the old notes. (Kunal Patil/HT)

This year, the donations are expected to be lower than last year’s Rs8 crore. “The heavy rain during the festival and demonetisation affected the collection a bit. Like every year, we will use the money for social causes,” said Balasaheb Kamble, president, Lalbaugcharaja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal.

While the counting is still on, the collection so far is Rs5.8 crore in cash, 5.5 kg of gold and 70kg of silver.

The auction will be held on Saturday. (Hindustan Times)

Speaking about the demonetised currency, Kamble said they don’t question anyone’s intention as the devotee would have donated the money out of devotion.

“We just want to report that we have received a particular amount in old currency. We will try to exchange it if possible, beyond that we can’t do much,” Kamble said.

The counting will be completed by Friday, after which the mandal will auction the items on Saturday.