Lalbaugcha Raja: Rs 1 cr collected in just 2 days

Barely two days after the Lalbaugcha Raja set foot in the city, the collections in the donation boxes have crossed Rs1 crore, the most in a two-day period at the mandal.

Barely two days after the Lalbaugcha Raja set foot in the city, the collections in the donation boxes have crossed Rs1 crore, the most in a two-day period at the mandal.

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The first day collections totalled to Rs49.15 lakh as against 36 lakh last year, while the second day collections closed at Rs52.1 lakh as on Saturday evening.

"This has been the most amount of money we have collected on day one, as also in the first two days," said treasurer Rajendra Lanjwal.

This year, both, the mannat and darshan queues, continued to multiply over the last three days despite security fears.

"Over the years, the number of devotees has seen a steady rise," said Ashok Pawar, president of the Lalbaug Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal. "Lalbaughcha Raja is believed to fulfill wishes of hundreds of devotees. People come from all parts of the country to get a glimpse of him," he added.

The Lalbaugcha Raja has become the city's most sought after Ganesh idol over the last few decades, with devotees waiting in queues for hours together just to catch a five-second glimpse of the 'wish-fulfilling deity'.