Lalbaug cha Raja, which has for years been the city’s most popular lord, has added another jewel in its crown this year. The city’s biggest crowd-puller during the Ganesh festival has emerged as its richest mandal, with devotees donating Rs 4.25 crore, around 8 kg of gold and 200 kg of silver — that too after standing in queue for as long as 14 hours.

With its increasing popularity, the donation account of the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Mandal has doubled since last year and the auction of gold and silver items will be held from Thursday to Sunday.

“We have received Rs 4.25 crore in cash through the 20 donation boxes that were kept in our premises,” said mandal President Sunil Joshi. This year the mandal also received dollars from visiting non-resident Indians (NRIs).

Members of the mandal have spent more than a week counting the cash and evaluating the gold and silver items. While most devotes offer gold and silver finger rings, earrings, chains, necklaces and other jewellery — including modak and coconut for the lord — the mandal has also received unusual items like sea-shells and houses made of gold.

“It is difficult to verify exactly who made these donations as they are just dropped into the donation boxes. But many people make wishes and when they come true, they make the donations. It is possible that someone wished for a house and has got one now,” Joshi explained.

The elephant-headed lord also received a 7-kg gold rose-flowered garland from a Taiwan company. However, the mandal has decided not to put this piece of jewellery for auction.

“We don’t think anyone will bid for such a huge garland. It has, therefore, been decided to use it for the lord during the Ganeshutsav,” Joshi informed.

Last year around Rs 2.5 crore was received as cash, which has been used for charitable purpose by the mandal. Usually patients with serious ailments, who come for treatment to government and municipal hospitals of the city like KEM, Nair, Tata, JJ and Wadia hospital, are helped with this money.

Joshi added that with the increase in the amount received as donations this year, the Trust will take a decision on increasing the money to be given to patients. “Many poor patients come from rural areas to Mumbai for treatment but have very little funds available. We will increase the amount of funds given to each patient,” he said.

Each year around 1,000 patients at government hospitals benefit from the mandal’s donations. It also runs a computer center, which has received around 20 computers as donations.