The eleven-day Ganesh festival at Hyderabad's ancient Balapur Ganesh temple from where the immersion procession starts, was celebrated with the auction of the ladoo, which went for Rs 3 lakhs on Wednesday.

The ladoo, which is traditionally sold at an auction, was purchsed by Tirupati Reddy. It is believed that the ladoo brings good luck; in fact, farmers who buy it sprinkle some of it on their fields, for a better crop.

However, this year, another giant ladoo fetched a better price of Rs 4.01 lakh at Maheswaram, in neighbouring Rangareddy district.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made in Hyderabad for the immersion ceremony, in the wake of reports that ISI was planning a large-scale attack.