Ganesh Chaturthi saw homes across India decked up for Bappa, with flowers, modaks, idols and puja essentials making their way into festive baskets. This year, shoppers on Instamart also showed a growing preference for eco-friendly celebrations, and here’s a peek into how India celebrated the festival.
Eco-Friendly Ganpati Orders Surge This Ganesh Chaturthi
According to Instamart’s festive trend report, demand for clay Ganpati idols rose 176% year-on-year, while mawa modak orders grew 145% YoY, making both clear favourites this Ganesh Chaturthi.
Bengaluru recorded the highest number of festive orders, followed by Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai, according to Instamart’s data. The numbers point to a growing demand for eco-friendly idols as more households across newer markets celebrate the festival.
Interestingly, eco-friendly clay Ganpati idols recorded the fastest-growing demand category, rising 176% compared to last year. Ready-to-place clay idols accounted for 90% of the demand, while paint-your-own eco-friendly idols made up the rest.
Some of the biggest increases came from cities outside the traditional heartlands of Ganesh Chaturthi. Delhi recorded a 1,718% jump in eco-Ganpati orders, followed by Kolkata at 1,305%, Noida at 1,136% and Bhubaneswar at 1,132%.
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Mawa Modaks Take The Lead
When it came to the festive sweet, mawa modaks emerged as the most-ordered flavour, with demand rising 145% YoY. They were followed by kesar, kaju, assorted and classic modaks.
The preference, however, varied across cities. Mawa was the top choice in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad, while Delhi and Gurgaon leaned towards kesar. Pune, Chennai, Kolkata and Nagpur preferred the classic modak.
Central Goa had a different favourite, with kaju modaks emerging as the most-ordered variety.
What Did India Order For Bappa?
Instamart’s data also offers a glimpse into how the morning of Ganesh Chaturthi unfolded through orders. At 7:42 AM, flowers saw their biggest rush, reaching a peak of 868 orders every minute on September 14.
An hour later, at 8:48 AM, eco-friendly clay Ganpati idols reached their peak as families brought Bappa home. By 9:45 AM, it was time for the puja essentials, with camphor, cotton wicks and agarbatti hitting their highest order volumes.
And at 10:39 AM, the focus shifted to the festive offering. Modak orders peaked, with mawa leading the demand, followed by kesar and classic.
Among the cities placing festive orders on Instamart, Bengaluru recorded the highest demand, followed by Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai. Delhi, Pune, Kolkata, Gurgaon and Kochi also featured among the cities with significant festive orders.
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Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/vetrestudio (representative image)
FAQs
Why are eco-friendly Ganpati idols becoming popular?
Eco-friendly idols, particularly those made from natural clay, are gaining popularity as they are designed to dissolve more easily in water and can help reduce the environmental impact associated with idol immersion.
What sweets are traditionally made during Ganesh Chaturthi?
Modaks are among the most popular offerings during the festival. Varieties include steamed ukadiche modak, fried modak and mawa modak.
Why is modak associated with Lord Ganesha?
Modak is traditionally considered one of Lord Ganesha’s favourite sweets and is commonly offered as bhog during Ganesh Chaturthi.
