Lalbaughcha Raja faces recession; received less cash and fewer gifts

Mumbai : Mumbai's iconic Lalbaughcha Raja was also hit by the economic slow down at this year's Ganesh Utsav with less cash and fewer gifts.

In the year of 2018, Lalbaughcha Raja received 5 kgs of gold and 80 kgs of silver from devotees whereas this year it received 3.75 kgs of gold and 56.7 kgs of silver in the offerings. The cash collected by the famous Mandal last year was ₹6.55 crores whereas this year it collected only ₹5.05 crores. The amount received by auctioning various gifts offered to Lalbaughcha Raja was ₹1.25 crore this year.

A gold thali with a complete set of two bowls and 1 spoon was the most expensive gift of the year to Lalbaughcha Raja, worth ₹50 lakhs. It also received a gold bar weighing 1 kilo, a pair of silver feet covered with gold leaf and many more.

According to a police report, this year there was a great fall in the number of devotees who came to offer prayers. One of the biggest reasons could be the heavy rains lashing the city during Ganesh Utsav. However, the Mandal said that the number of devotees increased not decreased and recession cost them fewer donations this year.