Erode, Tamil Nadu – In a display of unwavering faith and tradition, a single lemon used in rituals at the Pazhamthinni Karuppa Eswaran temple in Vilakkethi village was auctioned for ₹13,000 during the annual Maha Shivaratri festival, temple authorities confirmed on Friday.
The midnight auction, held on Wednesday, is a longstanding tradition at the temple, where sacred objects placed on the idol of the main deity are bid on by devotees. Among the highly sought-after items were a lemon, a silver ring, and a silver coin.
Local resident Thangaraj secured the lemon for ₹13,000, while Chidambaram from Arachalur won the silver ring with a bid of ₹43,100. Meanwhile, Ravikumar and Banupriya jointly bid ₹35,000 to acquire the silver coin.
Following the auction, temple officials conducted special pujas, placing the sacred objects before the deity. Devotees believe that possessing these blessed items brings prosperity, health, and well-being to their families.
This annual tradition continues to attract strong participation, reflecting the deep-rooted spiritual beliefs of the local community.