Coconut goes for Rs 10 lakh at temple auction

MAPUSA: Rs 10 lakh for a coconut! Yes! You read it right. Perhaps making it one of the highest such bid in the state this year, the sacred coconut offering to Shree Dev Raghugonshet at Korgao, Pernem in North Goa fetched Rs 10 lakh at an auction conducted during the temple's anniversary celebrations on Friday evening.

Every year, the anniversary is held on Vikata Sankashti Chaturthi in April by the Shetye families and the villagers. People from across Pernem and beyond participate in the celebrations which last five days. Of late, the main attraction of the festivities is the auction of the sacred coconut. Sources said that mostly the auction is won by a member of the Shetye clan. This year the auction bid winning prize was Rs 10 lakh by the local devotee.

Sources said the sacred coconut is worshipped at the house of the winning bidder. Last year, the auction price was Rs 11 lakh., sources said. During the festivities, people offer fruits like banana bunches, watermelons and pineapples, besides other items which are later auctioned by the temple committee in an open auction. Fund raised is utilised for the temple activities and its upkeep and other community welfare programmes, the committee members said.TNN