Mumbai:
Inflation is no match for devotion. Even as the GDP remains sluggish at 6.1 per cent, there are some in the city whose piety will take them to extreme lengths of altruism. At an auction of gold offerings received by Siddhivinayak Temple Trust yesterday, a Mumbai-based businessman bought gold ornaments worth around Rs 9.81 lakh, only to return most of it to the Trust, so it could be re-auctioned to generate more cash, which could be used for charitable purposes.
Pradeep Bhavnani, a stockbroker and a businessman, has decided that he will keep only one of the many ornaments that he has purchased, while donating the ornaments back to the Trust, so that it can be re-auctioned.
"After donating the ornaments to the temple authorities, I will request the authorities to auction them again and use the money in facilitating education and food for the poor and underprivileged sections of the society," said 59-year-old Bhavnani.
A kg of gold ornaments were up for public sale, which fetched the Trust around Rs 35.89 lakh. Around 150 devotees gathered to participate in the open auction, which was held from 11 am to 4 pm. Bhavnani also purchased the highest weighing ornament at the auction -- a 113 gram gold necklace offered to the deity -- for Rs 3.18 lakh.
This is not the first time that Bhavnani has bought ornaments presented to the deity. At an auction that was held a year back, he had bought a gold necklace for Rs 28 lakh. There too, he showed his benevolence. "I donated the gold necklace that I had bought from the Lalbaugcha Raja auction to the tsunami-hit Indian families in Japan through the Red Cross Society," said Bhavnani.
Satish Mali, deputy executive officer of the Temple Trust, said, "We donate the money collected to various social service organisations who cater to the poor and under-privileged. If Bhavnani approaches us for the re-auction of the ornaments, we will be more than happy and are ready to oblige for the same." The auctions are held five times a year and the next one is scheduled for March 23.