They are blessing laden with bling. A crown of solid gold studded with diamonds, and garlands of real pearls and gold, rings of rubies encased in gold, and arm bands of gold adorn the Ganpati of GSB Seva Mandal in Wadala, in mid town Mumbai. The five feet tall idol itself is made of pure gold.

India is in the midst of the 11-day Ganapati festival, which started last Friday, August 29. This year the celebrations are more lavish than ever across the country, with worshippers even creating idols made of gold, and relying on the precious metal to take their prayers onward.