NEW DELHI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The physical auction of mementos received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the past five years as the head of Indian government began in the country's capital city on Sunday, and will continue till Monday.

The auction attracted an overwhelming response from the passionate bidders, said an official release issued by the government.

The funds raised from the auction of the mementos will go to the government's flagship project "Namami Gange" dedicated to clean the river Ganga, which has been facing high levels of pollution for decades.

Following the two-day physical auction, an e-auction will take place on January 29-31 on the portal "www.pmmementos.gov.in" for the remaining items which would not be sold during the physical auction.

Exclusive items that are being auctioned include statues, photographs, paintings and articles such as shawls, commemorative coins, traditional musical instruments, hats, headgears and jackets etc.