The idol was found while carrying out works for building a temple on the premises of factory. The company has decided to conduct Ganesh festival celebrations on a grand note this time and after completion of the festivities, the construction work will begin.

As the city is gearing up for the colourful Vinayaka Chavithi festival from Friday, celebrations have begun well in advance on the premises of KCP Sugars and Industries Limited at Laxmipuram on the suburbs of Vijayawada with the discovery of an ancient Ganesh idol during digging works for construction of a temple.

As part of its plans to build Sri Lakshmi Ganapathi temple, the factory management started works at north-east corner using an earthmover. While the earthmover operator was digging, he heard a sound and stopped operating the machine for a while. A few minutes later, he resumed the work only to find a stone structure. When the operator slowly removed the soil, he found a three-foot high Ganesh idol in a sitting posture, said CEO G. Venkateswara Rao.

“We immediately alerted Department of Archaeology and Museums officials who rushed to the premises and examined the idol. We have been planning to construct Sri Lakshmi Ganapathi temple for the last three years but when we commenced the works, we found a Ganesh idol. It’s really a blessing from the God,” he said.

The company has decided to conduct Ganesh festival celebrations on a grand note this time and after completion of the festivities, the construction work will begin. “We are planning to complete the work in nine months,” Mr. Rao said.

As the news of the discovery spread fast, people from nearby villages thronged the company and performed puja. Archaeological Department Assistant Director K. Chittibabu, who examined the idol, explained that it could be dated to 12 Century A.D. The idol, with Chalukyan style of carving, is made of granite stone with trunk on the left side, he said, adding that during an exploration carried out by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at Laxmipuram and its surroundings in 1984, the remains of pre-historic and medieval period were found.