Ganesh Chaturthi Festival and Recipes

Ganesh Chaturthi and Collection of desserts, snacks and main course recipes for recipes for the auspicious Festival

Ganesh Chathurthi the 10 day festival dedicated to Lord Ganesh is here and all around the world his devotees are busy in welcoming him by decorating their homes and of course making his favorite sweets(mithai) as a bhog/ prasad(food that is offered to Gods in Hindu religion).

What is Ganesh Chathurthi

Ganesh Chathurthi also known as Vinayak Chathurthi is one of the major festivals in India especially in Mumbai(Maharashtra) and South Indian States. Huge celebrations are planned in whole city and majority of people welcome Ganpati or Bappa in their home or society complexes.

It is celebrated in the month of August(end) or September(beginning). The festival is marked with bringing Ganesha home, publicly in big Pandals( made for gatherings) and serving Him for 10 days . On the 10th day the idol is immersed in nearby pond any water body.

Ganeshji or Bappa as he is fondly called in Northern part of India and Mumbai respectively, is worshiped in form of kid. He is the son of Lord Shiva and Devi(Goddess) Parvati. He also has different 108 names and is known as the "Lord of New Beginnings".

As per one of the famous mythological belief, kid Ganesha, comes down to earth for 10 days and stays with us. On 10th day he says bye to all of us and goes back to his mom Ma Parvati. Mom or Mommy is fondly called Ma in Indian languages.

Ganesha loves all kind of food especially sweets. His favourite sweet are known to be Modaks in Maharashtra and Southern India.

In Northern India, special Boondi Ladoos or Motichoor Ladoos are offered to him.

Being from North India, we didn't have the tradition of bringing Him home. Before starting the tradition at our place, we used to visit temple for Ganesha Darshan and Mom always made Rice Kheer on Ganesh Chathurthi and also we offered prasad of 21 Motichoor Ladoos.

When I say we bring him home or people bring him home, we bring beautiful Ganesh Idols, decorate Mandap or Pooja place or prayer place.During this time friends and relatives also come and visit Ganesh and take his blessings.

How we celebrate Ganesh Chathurthi festival at our place

In 2007 when we shifted to Mumbai, we saw the tradition of bringing Bappa home(as Ganesha is fondly called in Mumbai). My daughter was around 5-6 years then and she insisted that we should also bring Him home. Since then we started the tradition of celebrating Ganesh Chathurthi at our place.

People with different cultural backgrounds have their own way of offering prayers. We bring him home, decorate him with flowers, do pooja and offer him Kheer(Rice Pudding) and his favorite Mootichoor Ladoos and Besan Ladoos. He stays with us for 1 full and another half day and then we immerse him in the local river here, known as Ganesh Visarjan..

For performing traditional Pooja, we call a priest(Panditji) on first day(morning time) and then next day in evening when we go Visarjan. He does all the traditional prayer recitation for us. I make Prasad/Bhog of Chawal Ki Kheer and Besan Ladoo for Bappa and then after prayers we offer it to HIM. The whole day friends keep coming, to pay their offering to the Divine..

Next day after in evening we go for Visarjan and come back to the empty house, it feels as though some loved left the home and went away. My daughter when she was a kid always cried while watching the whole Visarjan ritual as she didn't want Bappa to go. And then eagerly awaits for next year, when Bappa comes home.

Our's may not be the traditional way of following the rituals but we do it with full love and devotion!!

It's been now 12 years now that we started bringing Ganesha to our home and are celebrating the festival.

Desserts and Special no-onion no-garlic dishes are prepared for bhog or prasad. Whatever we eat is offered to Ganesha for Prasad. Lord Ganesha is just like special guest and treated with all the delicacies.

In this post I have compiled sweets/desserts that we can offer to Ganesha. Also there is a collection of few No onion No garlic snacks that you can prepare for offering and treating to guests who come to visit.

To go to the detailed recipe post, pls click on the recipe/dish name

Indian Sweets/Mithai/Desserts

Mawa Modak

Stuffed Mawa Modaks for Ganesh Chaturthi made with Mawa/Khoya with coarsely grinded nuts and coconut filling.

Chawal Ki Kheer/Rice Pudding

Most popular food that is offered to Gods in India since ancient times . Indian Rice Pudding in cooked in the traditional way with Basmati Rice and Milk flavored with cardamom. I make it every year especially for Ganpati and also on other festivals like Holi and Deepwali!!

Malai Ladoo

Malai Ladoo, super quick and easy 2 ingredient ladoos for special occasions, made with Paneer/Indian Cottage Cheese and sugar, flavored with cardamom and saffron garnished with nuts.

Sooji Halwa

We North Indian love Sooji Halwa, and make it on most of our special occasions. Sooji Halwa, one of the easiest, quickest and delicious dessert to offer Ganesha!!

Besan Halwa

Gluten-free, Besan/Chickpea Flour Halwa, made with ghee and nuts, if perfect offering for Bappa, if your are looking for quick and gluten-free prasad recipe.

Layered Dark and White Chocolate Kalakand

Quick and easy Layered Dark and White Chocolate Kalakand /Indian Fudge recipe with Dark and White chocolate. Give twist to your traditional kalakand, because Ganesha loves Chocolate too!!

Coconut Ladoos

Make these real quick and delicious Coconut ladoos with just two easily available ingredients.

Paan Coconut Ladoo

Paan or Betel Leaves and Coconut are used during festivals for various preparations and also used in rituals. Make these delicious ladoos using both the ingredients.

Besan aur Badam Ke Ladoo

Another sweet that I make every year, is Besan Ke ladoo. One of the most famous Indian sweet loved by all age groups. Make besan ladoos more rich and yummy by adding almonds or badam.

Apricot Fig and Nuts Energy Bites/Ladoos

No flour, gluten-free and no cook ladoos that you can offer to Bappa and to your guests. Loaded with goodness of dried fruits and mixed nuts.

Oats and Jaggery Ladoo

Gluten-free, fiber rich ladoos made with quick rolled oats, jaggery and nuts. Incase you are on gluten-free diet, these are perfect for offering to Bappa.

Mohanthaal

A very popular Gujarati sweet made with besan or chickpea flour. So very easy to make and a crowd pleaser. Gluten-free dessert for everyone!!

Meethe Jave or Vermicelli Kheer

Meethe Jave/Vermicelli Kheer, dessert or pudding made with jave or vermicelli noodles in thickened milk with nuts.

Kalakand

If you thought making Kalakand is an elaborate process check out this recipe and make this traditional North Indian sweet in under 30 minutes.

Mathura Ke Pede

Mathura Ke Pede the famous sweet from the Holy City of Mathura. Easy peasy recipe with milk powder, no khoya required.

Chocolate Truffles

Yes Ganpati likes chocolates too!!

Chocolate Modaks

Why not make the kid friendly avatar of Ganeshji's favourite Modaks with Chocolate. Checkout the delicious Chocolate Modak recipe by Mayuri's Jikoni.

These are a few of the dessert recipes that I handpicked from my blog. Looking for more, checkout the collection of Indian Desserts/Mithai for Festivals.

Savory snacks and dishes (no onion no garlic) a that you can make for Prasad and serve to guests also

Kale Chane in North Indian Style

Make Prasad with Black Chickpeas/Kale Chane, just like it is made for Ashtmai Prasad.

Instant Sooji and Oats Appe

Appe made with fibre rich Oats and Semolina, a healthy and yummy snack, that can be made without onions and garlic. Omit onion from the recipe for no onion garlic version.

Iyengar Style Puliyogare Instant RiceInstant Sooji and Oats Appe

Simple Tamarind Rice offered as Prasad in Iyengar temples. made with a special Puliyogare masala or paste. Don't have time to make the masala for rice, make it from store bought Puliyogare spice mix.

Lemon Rice

No onion no garlic Lemon rice, is usually prepared with left over rice, make this flavorful rice with fresh steamed rice.

Poha Chivda

Made by roasting flattened rice flakes(Poha) in very little or no oil along with added nuts like peanuts, cashew nuts and raisins. Make ahead snack that can be made in bulk for large gatherings too..

Instant Khaman Dhokla

Rava Pongal

Comforting and delicious Pongal from South India, not only makes a filling breakfast or mini meal, but also can be offered to the Divine for Bhog/Prasad.

Sabudana Vada

Sabudana Vadas fried cutlets made with soaked Sabudana/Sago pearls mixed and mashed with boiled potatoes and coarsely ground peanuts.

Air Fried Sabudana Vada

Make crispy and crunchy Sabudana Vada in minimum oil in your Air Fryer.

Sabudana Khichdi

Sabudana Khichdi/Tapioca Pearls cooked with boiled potatoes and peanuts flavored with Curry leaves and Green Chilies".

Pindi Chole

No onion No garlic Chole, serve with Jeera Rice or Ajwain Poori.. You can top it with sev, papadi and no onion no garlic chutneys. I make this for Bhog on one of the days when Ganapati is at home.