The air is filled with excitement as the much-anticipated 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations kicked off this Wednesday. This joyous festival will culminate with the final immersion of the beloved Ganesha idols, known as the Visarjan, on September 19. While the fervour of Ganesh Chaturthi is felt across the nation, it's especially grand in states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Gujarat, where the festivities are nothing short of spectacular. As the festival envelops everyone in a jubilant spirit, let's delve into some delectable dishes that you can prepare at home to enhance your celebration experience.
Since modaks, or sweet dumplings, are revered as Ganpati's favorite sweet food, it can be challenging to locate a home celebrating the festival without modaks! Usually, on the first day of the celebration, worshippers present Lord Ganesha a "bhog" of modaks. They can be steamed or deep-fried and are made using flour, or rice flour. They contain sweet coconut, dry fruit, or jaggery fillings.
Traditional sheera is a halwa made with suji, a lot of dry fruits, and ghee. Many people add bananas to the customary sheera for Ganesh Chaturthi and serve it as an offering.
Another celebratory dish that Maharashtrians adore preparing for nearly every auspicious occasion is puran poli. Several Maharashtrian homes present Lord Ganesha with the bhog of puran poli on one of these 10 days. One of the most well-liked bhogs offered to Lord Ganesha during Ganesha Chaturthi is puran poli, along with modak. A flatbread made of flour, puran poli is filled with sweet lentils and jaggery.
Coconut ladoo is yet another traditional sweet delicacy served as bhog during Ganesh Chaturthi. It is best consumed frozen and is made with milk, condensed milk, and dry roasted coconut.
South India's version of the classic sweet dish, kheer, is called payasam. Essentially, it is rice that has been cooked in milk with jaggery, coconut, and cardamom. It is an easy dish to make and is a festival favourite.
