Ganesh Chaturthi Festival and Recipes

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

Celebrate Ganesh Utsav with these traditonal and some fusion recipes for Bhog/Prasad and to serve to your guests.

In 2023 Ganesh Chaturthi is on 19th September which commences a 10 day festival Ganeshostav with Ganesh Visarjan.

Ganesh Chaturthi 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 Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayak Chaturthi 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.

As per the Hindu Calendar Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the Forth day (Chaturthi) of the Bhadrapada. As per the Georgian calendar it falls in the month of August(end) or September(beginning).

The festival is marked with bringing Ganesha(clay idols) in our home or in big Pandals( made for large gatherings) and serving Him for 10 days . On the 10th day, also known as the Anat Chaturdashi the idol is immersed in nearby pond/lake/river/sea any clean water body. Not only people welcome Him with full pomp and pleasure but also say Goodbye to Him with dance, music and full procession.

Ganeshji as he is fondly called in Northern part of India and Bappa in Maharashtra/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".

Significance of Ganesha

You must have read or heard about the story How Ganesh got his elephant head. But, do you know exactly the significance of the God with Elephant head?

Many see the union of Ganesha’s body and elephant head as a representation of how the spirit should live in harmony with nature.

His large elephant head is also an embodiment of wisdom and understanding.

His round belly can be seen as the cosmos, while the snake around his waist is the energy that holds the cosmos together.

The mouse he rides is like the wandering mind that can be controlled under the weight of knowledge.

He has four hands – one with an axe to cut off attachments, one with a rope to pull a person towards the highest goal, one with a sweet to reward those who live a life of spiritual discipline, and one held with the palm out to give blessings and protect those on the path of spirituality. (source: Online)

Beliefs associated Ganeshostav

Bhagwan Ganesh is considered as the God of new beginnings, fresh starts, the one who removes obstacles, patron of learning. The 10 day Ganesh festival not only celebrates his birthday but also a social and community event that bring people together and promotes harmony.

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.

When I say we bring him home or people bring him home, we bring beautifully decorated Ganesh Idols made with clay, 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 Chaturthi 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, from 2010, we started the tradition of celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi at our place.

People book the idols from the idol makers a month in advance. Many people also make they own clay idols in t here home. Nowadays lot ECO friendly Ganesha are available, which do not cause the pollution of water bodies.

A day before Ganesh Chaturthi, we bring Him home, decorate Him with flowers, do pooja and offer him bhog/prasad of Kheer(Rice Pudding) and his favorite Motichoor Ladoos and Besan Ladoos. Lord Ganesha stays with us for 1 full and another half day and then we immerse him in the local river here, known as Ganesh Visarjan.

People with different cultural backgrounds have their own way of offering prayers. Many people bring Ganesha for 3 days, many for 5 days and at many homes He stays for all the 10 days.

How we do Ganesh Pujan

For performing traditional Pooja for Pratishtha , 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. When my daughter was a kid she cried while watching the whole Visarjan ritual as she didn't want Bappa to go.

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.

I prepare desserts and special no-onion no-garlic dishes for bhog or prasad. Whatever we eat is offered to Ganesha for Prasad. Lord Ganesha is just like special guest and is 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 to offer as bhog/prasad and also can serve to guests who come to visit.

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

Food for Ganpati

Ganesha loves all kind of food especially sweets. His favorite sweet are different kinds of Modaks in Maharashtra and Southern India. But now people offer Him a wide variety of sweets and snacks irrespective of region/state.

Food cooked for Ganpati should be fresh and made from fresh ingredients. You can make Ladoos, Modak, Burfi and other dry snacks 2-3 days before the festival. Do not eat or share it before offering to God.

Also, food for bhog or prasad should be onion and garlic free.

In Northern India, people offer special Boondi Ladoos or Motichoor Ladoos.

Since I am from North India, when I was a kid, we didn't have the tradition of bringing Him home. We visited neighborhood temple for Ganesha Darshan and mom always made Rice Kheer on Ganesh Chaturthi. We also we offered prasad of 21 Motichoor Ladoos.

Here I bring you recipes that you can make for the occasion, as per your convenience and availability of ingredients. For your ease I have divided recipes in various the sections. Do check, make and have an auspicious time with Bappa and your loved ones!!

Indian Sweets/Mithai/Desserts

Panchamrit/Charanamrit is a must for all the auspicious Hindu ceremonies or festivals. The first bhog to any Hindu deity while Pooja or Hawan is done with Panchamrit.

Modak, Ladoo and Burfi Recipes

Kheer and Phirni Recipes

Halwa and other Desserts Recipes

Savory Snacks

Yogurt/Dahi Based

Main Course and Curries

 Hope this post will help you in deciding the menu and with the recipes for your Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. Have a wonderful auspicious time with your loved ones. May Bappa bless you with his choicest of blessing!!

Ganpati Bappa Morya!!

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Swati