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Want to Prepare Authentic Maharashtrian Recipes for Ganesh Chaturthi Festival this Time?

It’s that time of the year again that all Maharashtrians are excited about. Lord Ganesha’s birthday is celebrated with much fervor in many parts of India and especially in Maharashtra. As a part of the ritual, it is required to offer food to the Lord as prasad or nivedyam after the puja. Here in this guide, we tell you how to prepare some recipes in authentic Maharashtrian way.

What is the Ganesh Chaturthi Festival?

Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi is a Hindu festival celebrated all over India, especially in Maharashtra. This 10-day festival is devoted to celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesh, the elephant-headed god. Ganesha is popularly worshiped in the belief that he can remove obstacles in life and bring good fortune. The Ganesh Chaturthi festival takes place in September and is a spectacular event to watch. You will be amazed to see Grand statues of the deity, worship ceremonies and food offerings during this time. Ganesh idols are also worshiped in households during this festival.

The Story Behind the Tradition of the Festival

Every festival has a story or myth behind it. Lord Ganesha is said to be the son of God Shiva and goddess Parvati. It is believed that Parvati created Ganesha out of dirt from her body to guard the door while she finishes her bath. Unknown of Shiva, Ganesha refused to let him enter. Lord Shiva in a fit of anger, severed Ganesha’s head. Upon Parvathy’s demand to bring back the child to life, Shiva replaced the head with that of an elephant, thus creating Lord Ganesh in his present form. Devotees celebrate this auspicious moment by worshipping and offering food to the Lord. It is said that Lord Ganesha was fond of food, especially the sweet, Modak. It is auspicious to offer bhog/ prasad to the lord to impress him and to seek blessings.

How is Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrated in Maharashtra?

The significance of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival traces back to the Maratha ruler, Shivaji. It is said that he initiated the festival long back. Henceforth, freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak revived it as a common platform for Indians to resist British rule in early India. It is thus considered as a vital element in unifying Indians of all communities. It is one of the most awaited festivals in Maharashtra. People of Mumbai celebrate the festival like no other. The zeal and enthusiasm of devotees are totally epic! All the dance, music and food in Maharashtra during the event is something that anyone would want to witness at least once in a lifetime. Such is the grandeur!

1. Welcoming the Deity and Offering Prayers

The festival is seen as the homecoming of the lord. On the first day, idols of the deity are worshipped in designated places at home or in the streets (in pandals). Hymns or mantras are chanted while special pujas are conducted for the God. Food in the form of prasad or nivedyam is offered.

2. Celebrations Including the Procession and Pandals

Devotees flock on the streets in large numbers to take part in dance, music and processions chanting “Ganapathi Bappa Moriya” (slogan praising the lord). People also offer prayers at pandals and take part in singing devotional songs in honour of Ganesha.

3. Immersion of the Idols

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After 10 days of celebrations and spiritual worship of the lord, it is said that Lord Ganesh then returns to the heavenly abode. Being a symbolic form of bidding goodbye, the idols of the lord are submerged in water.

How is Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrated at Home?

If you are planning to conduct Ganesh Chaturthi puja at home, there are some things that you need to follow.

1. Preparate the Ganesh Mandap and Place the Idol

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The entire house has to be cleaned and ready to welcome the lord. Clay idol of Ganesha is placed on a raised platform.

2. Chant Ganesh Mantras and Worship the Lord with Puja

Source www.idealmantra.com

Prayers and mantras are chanted during the installation. You can also ask a pandit to do the puja and related procedures.

3. Honour the Idol with Aarthi

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The idol is then bathed with holy water (abhisheka) and then decorated with flowers and garlands. Aarti includes lighting the lamp and chanting of hymns, mantras and devotional songs.

4.Offer Naivedya or Prashad of Special Recipes to the God

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Sweets and savory as prasad or bhog include great importance in the festival. The most important of them being Modak, a sweet dumpling made from jaggery, coconut and rice flour. Keep reading as we discuss some easy recipes for you to try at home.

Authentic Maharashtrian Recipes that You can Prepare for Ganesh Chaturthi

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If it’s your first-time celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi at home, it is natural that you may be feeling overwhelmed. After all, it is indeed a tedious process to bring along all the elements required for the ceremony. Preparation and conducting of the puja require tremendous energy of course. Also, you have to prepare dishes as prasad to serve guests too. Take a note of these Ganesh Chaturthi prasad ideas which are very easy to make!

Modak

No Ganesh festival is complete without offering of the Modak. it is believed to be Ganesha’s favorite and the reason why he is referred to as “modakapriya”. Modak or sweet dumplings filled with coconut and jaggery are the prominent prasad or offering of the festival. This Modak recipe is a classic traditional recipe.

Modak


    List of Ingredients:

    For the outer covering:

  • 1 cup rice flour
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tsp ghee

  • For the filling:

  • 1 cup jaggery
  • 1 cup grated coconut
  • A pinch of nutmeg or cardamom powder

    Instructions:

  • To a heated pan, add the coconut and jaggery. Stir till jaggery melts and mixes well with the coconut.
  • Add the nutmeg or cardamom powder. Set aside this mixture to cool.
  • Boil water with salt and ghee in a deep dish.
  • Add the rice flour to the water to make the dough for the outer covering.
  • Make small balls of the dough and flatten it on the palm of your hand.
  • Place a spoonful of the filling inside and seal the dough in the shape of a Modak. You can also get this done in a mold.
  • Steam the dumplings or fry them in oil.

Puran Poli

Source www.ndtv.com

This sweet flatbread is typically prepared on all Maharashtrian festivals, including Ganesh Chaturthi

Puran Poli


    List of Ingredients:

    For the filling:

  • 2 cups Chana dal (cooked and drained)
  • 1 cup grated jaggery
  • ½ tsp Cardamom powder
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg powder
  • 1 tbsp ghee

  • For the dough:

  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 2 tsp ghee
  • ¼ tsp turmeric powder
  • Salt (a pinch)

    Instructions:

  • Combine flour, turmeric powder, ghee and salt and mix well. Knead into a soft dough with water as required. Keep aside for 30 minutes.
  • In a pan, add the cooked dal, ghee and jaggery. Cook till the jaggery melts and the mixture thickens. Add the nutmeg and cardamom powders. Let it cool.
  • Now, roll the dough into small balls of equal sizes. Roll the balls to flatten them into circles. Place a generous amount of the filling in the middle. Bring the ends together and shape it into a ball again. Flatten this like chapati and cook on a griddle. Apply ghee and fry till both sides turn golden brown.

Puffed Rice Ladoo

Source aartimadan.com

This crunchy, light, crispy and delicious snack is very easy to make. The Puffed rice and jaggery combination make for a tasty snack that would definitely please lord Ganesha and the rest of the others at home.

Puffed Rice Ladoo


    List of Ingredients:

  • 3 cups puffed rice (murmura)
  • ½ cup jaggery (powdered)
  • ¼ cup roasted gram flour
  • ¼ tsp cardamom powder
  • 4 tbsp water

    Instructions:

  • First, dry roast the puffed rice in a heated pan. Set aside to cool.
  • In a pot, add the jaggery and water. When the jaggery melts, pass it through a sieve to remove any impurities. Pour this jaggery into a pan and add the cardamom powder and stir continuously. When the jaggery syrup turns into the right consistency (string like), pour it over the puffed rice. Add roasted gram flour to this and make small balls or ladoos when the mix is hot.

Sheera (Sooji halwa)

Source potatoonion.com

This classic Indian sweet is generally made on special occasions and festivals, including Ganesh Chaturthi. It is offered to Ganesha as naivedyam or prasad and then, distributed to devotees as blessings

Sheera (Sooji halwa)


    List of Ingredients:

  • ½ cup sooji (rava or fine semolina)
  • ¼ cup ghee
  • 1 ¼ cup water (hot)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ tsp cardamom powder
  • 2 tbsp almonds, cashew, raisins (chopped)

    Instructions:

  • In a heated pan, stir in ghee and semolina on a medium heat. Roast till the sooji turns brown and the ghee starts oozing out. Slowly add in heated water to this mix and blend in well. Now add sugar and cook till the sugar melts and the sheera stops sticking to the sides of the pan. Add cardamom powder and the dry nuts and raisins. Always remember to keep stirring throughout the process.

Karanji

Source food.ndtv.com

Known as karanji in Maharashtra and gujiya in other parts of India, this sweet is one of the most popular prasads offered to the lord on Ganesh Chaturthi.

Karanji


    List of Ingredients:

    For the stuffing:

  • ½ cup desiccated coconut
  • 1 tbsp white sesame seeds
  • Cashew nuts, almond and raisins (around 9 each, powdered or crushed)
  • ½ tsp cardamom powder
  • 3 tbsp sugar (powdered)
  • Pinch of nutmeg powder
  • ½ tbsp ghee

  • For the outer covering:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tbsp ghee
  • ½ cup milk
  • Salt (a pinch)

    Instructions:

  • Roast the coconut in ghee on a heated pan. Keep aside.
  • Now, roast the sesame seeds till they start popping.
  • Add this to the coconut mixture along with the powdered dry fruits. Also, add in the sugar, nutmeg and cardamom powder. Your stuffing is ready.
  • To the flour add in melted ghee and salt. Add milk and knead into a smooth dough. Cover with a moist towel and keep aside for 15 minutes.Make small balls with the dough and flatten them will a roll pin. Place a spoonful of the filling into each of the flattened dough. Bring the edges together and pinch to shape into karanjis. Fry the karanjis in hot oil till golden brown.

Kothimbir Vadi

Source www.vahrehvah.com

This easy-to-make savory snack is one of the most popular spicy recipes for Ganesh Chaturthi.

Kothimbir Vadi


    List of Ingredients:

  • 2 cups coriander leaves (chopped)
  • 1 cup besan (gram flour)
  • 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
  • 1 green chilly
  • Red chili powder, turmeric, coriander powder, cumin powder (½ tsp each)
  • ¼ tsp garam masala powder
  • 1 tsp sesame seeds
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • Salt (as required)
  • Water ¼ cup
  • Oil (for frying)

    Instructions:

  • Combine all the ingredients (except oil) and knead into a soft dough. Shape the dough into cylindrical shape. Place a steamer on medium heat and steam the dough till cooked well. Once cooled completely, slice the dough into thin slices. Fry in oil till golden brown.

Sabudana vada

Source www.vegrecipesofindia.com

This crispy and savory snack is an all-time favorite of all Maharashtrian festivals.

Sabudana vada


    List of Ingredients:

  • ½ cup peanuts
  • 1 cup Sabudana (sago pearls)
  • 2 cups potatoes (boiled and mashed)
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 2-3 green chilies (thinly sliced)
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • Coriander leaves
  • Pinch of sugar
  • Salt to taste
  • 2-3 tsp rice flour (optional)

    Instructions:

  • Dry roast the peanuts and coarsely grind them. Now, mix the rest of the ingredients together (except rice flour). Combine well to form a soft dough. Add rice flour if required for binding the ingredients together. Make small balls with the dough and flatten into the shape of vadas. Fry in oil till the vadas turn crispy and golden brown.
  • Tip: You can refrigerate the vadas before frying. This helps to avoid retention of oil in the vadas once cooked.

So, with these classic yet, easy-to-try recipes in hand, preparing for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations won’t be difficult. No Indian festival is complete without sumptuous food. Indulging yourself to prepare and consume authentic Indian dishes is a crucial part of the occasion. It’s even more important when the food needs to be served as offering to God.

Writer
Rubina Cheruvalath
Rubina is a free thinker and a dreamer. She believes that there is something to be learnt from everything. In spite of securing a technical education, Rubina chose to think beyond it and work in the management field. A proud mum of two boys, she aspires to explore the world with her family and create cherishable memories.

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