Lord Ganesha is known to be fond of sweets. Just like Ganesha, many of us are die-hard foodies too. This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, we will miss the pomp and fervour of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. But worry not. You can still enjoy the celebrations virtually and feast on some mouth-watering delicacies while staying at home. Here are the top 10 foods that are a must-try for everyone on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi:
1. Sheera
One of the most popular offerings to Lord Ganesha, sheera is a sweet dish prepared from semolina, sugar, ghee, cashew nuts, raisins and other dry fruits. It usually comes in two flavours- pineapple and banana and is a common dish among the households of Maharashtra. Also, have you tried the tempting halwa paratha at Delhi’s Nizamuddin Lane?
2. Aluwadi
Also known as patra, these are basically steamed taro leaf rolls made with chana dal, ginger, garlic, tamarind and sesame seeds. Aluwadis are unique to the state of Maharashtra. They are high on taste and aid in better digestion too. Aluwadi is often served as a side-dish along with meals.
Also Read: 10 Indian Dishes That Stand Tall In Comparison To Their Western Counterparts
3. Modak
Lord Ganesha is often called ‘modapriya‘ for his immense love for modaks. Stuffed with jaggery and sweet coconut, these Indian dumplings have different variations, like steamed modak, dry fruits modak, rice modak and even chocolate modak. Almost every household in Maharashtra makes this dish during Ganesh Chaturthi.
4. Motichoor Ladoo
Ganesha loves motichoor ladoo so much that we always find him holding one in this hand. The aromatic boondi laddoos infused with saffron are an all-time favourite of all dessert lovers. It is also one of the common sweets of the bhog offered to Lord Ganesha.
5. Karanji
The heavenly bite of Karanji will definitely give a roller coaster ride to the taste buds of all those who have a sweet tooth. These fried pastries loaded with grated coconut, dry fruits, poppy seeds and cardamom can be easily prepared at home and they taste amazing with piping-hot chai. This delicacy is somewhat similar to the Gujiyas of Gujarat.
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6. Puran Poli
This classic sweet flatbread is iconic to Ganesh Chaturthi. These tuvar dal or chana dal parathas have stuffings of jaggery, coconut, cardamom and ghee. Another quintessential dish of Ganpati festival bhog, Puran Puli can get your hunger pangs sorted in the most delectable way.
7. Shrikhand
Saffron and cardamom flavoured hung curd topped with almonds, cashew nuts, raisins and other dry fruits- that’s what exactly Shrikhand is. A mere glimpse of this silky smooth delicacy can be profoundly soothing to the eyes and soul. It is a popular dish in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
8. Rishi Bhaji
Rishi Bhaji, also known as Rishi Panchami Bhaji is made on Rishi Panchami, the next day of Ganesh Chaturthi. It is a highly nutritious dish, made with a mix of vegetables like sweet potato, pumpkin, raw banana and corns and is usually consumed with chapattis.
Also Read: 10 Traditional Dishes From Odisha That Every Foodie Must Try
9. Thalipeeth
The utterly crispy, spicy multi-grain pancake, thalipeeth is a must-try if you’re in Maharashtra during Ganesh Chaturthi. The main ingredients of thalipeeth are chana daal, urad daal, wheat, and rice. One can enjoy these toothsome pancakes with ghee, butter, pickle or curd.
10. Churma laddoo
We’ve already spoken about motichoor laddoos. But how can we forget churma laddoos? These deep-fried laddoos, sweetened with jaggery are super crunchy and can melt in the mouth. You’ll find them in almost every sweet shop in Mumbai.
Also Read: 15 Local Dishes From North India That You Must Try
These are only a handful of the wide array of scrumptious savouries that are prepared across India during Ganesh Chaturthi. Other dishes include patholi, varan bhaat, coconut laddoo, shankarpali, dhokla, chawli usal and loads more. Which one among these delicacies is your favourite? Tell us in the comment section below. Meanwhile, here’s a throwback to Ganesh Chaturthi 2019 at Tejukaya Ganpati Mandal, which had made a 22-feet paper Ganpati idol: