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.