Shalu of Mahalaxmi to be auctioned today

KOLHAPUR: The annual auction of the Shalu or the silk saree presented to Goddess Mahalaxmi on the auspicious day of Dussehra by Lord Balaji, Tirupati Devasthan Tirumalla will be conducted on Sunday. The auction will begin at 11 am on Sunday at the Garud Mandap in the Mahalaxmi temple.
As per the tradition, every year Lord Balaji presents a Shalu to Goddess Mahalaxmi as a token of love during Dussehra.The silk saree is draped on Goddess Mahalaxmi during the Dussehra celebrations.
The officials of Tirupati Devasthan as representatives of Lord Tirupati come to Kolhapur from Tirumalla to present the Shalu and the officials of Paschim Maharashtra Devasthan Samiti (PMDS) receive it on behalf of Goddess Mahalaxmi.
Thousands of devotees take part in the traditional auction of the Shalu at the Garud mandap in Mahalaxmi temple. The Paschim Maharashtra Devasthan Samiti (PMDS) conducts the auction every year, a few days after Dussehra.
According to the PMDS officials, the devotees bid for the Shalu which is considered auspicious.The PDMS officials expect that the Shalu could auctioned for more than Rs 2 lakh this year. Over the past few years, the silk saree adorned by the Goddess Mahalaxmi on the auspicious day of Dussehra has been auctioned for more than Rs 2 lakh.
The PMDS officials use the amount raised through the auction to provide facilities to the devotees in temple premises. In 2009, the highest bidder bought the Shalu for Rs 2.34 lakh. It got the maximum price in 2010, when the Shalu, was auctioned at Rs 2.51lakh. In 2011, the silk saree was auctioned for Rs 2.26 lakh. Last year, it was sold at Rs 2 lakh.
The PMDS uses the auction amount to maintain the temple premises and create facilities for devotees who visit through the year.