Mumbai, Oct 17 (IANS) The famed Siddhivinayak Temple of Lord Ganesha in central Mumbai set the tone for Diwali celebrations here Saturday by auctioning off the valuable offerings made to its coffers even as the festival of lights was celebrated enthusiastically all over the state.
A temple spokesman said the auction would include all the offerings made in the temple during the last one year and more. Among the articles in the temple coffers are valuable items of gold, silver, precious stones and other jewellery.

Mumbai and the rest of the state celebrated the festival of lights with more lights and less noise pollution this year amidst tight police security.

Long queues were witnessed outside the Mahalakshmi Temple in Mumbai and Kolhapur as people prayed to Goddess Lakshmi on the festive occasion.

Since Friday night, people and children cutting across communities came out on the roads in their Diwali best to shop, feast and greet each other.

Unlike in the past, this year the decibel levels were noticeable lower as people preferred to burst low-noise firecrackers.

People from other major cities of the state like Pune, Aurangabad, Nagpur, Kolhapur and Amravati also celebrated Diwali with traditional enthusiasm.