The sweet-toothed God known as 'Modakapriya' is known to equally enjoy other sweets offered to Him by diverse communities

With the advent of Ganesh Chaturthi, marketplaces abound with vibrant idols of the elephant-headed God Ganesha. On the festive day, huge pandals stand fabricated, idols installed with fine clothing, divine embellishments, and adorned with flowers. Though Bappa’s festivity is elaborate in Maharashtra, worshippers bring home idols with great devotion across the length and breadth of the country. Chowkis are decorated, puja performed and home-made naivedya is offered. Modak is the quintessential bhog, but each region has its special offerings to Vignaharta - the Hindu god of new beginnings, wisdom and remover of obstacles.

Andhra Pradesh & Telangana

Dal Vada |

People bring home mud-idols of Vinayaka and place it on decorative wooden stools. Poornam kudumulu, similar to modak, and steamed undrallu made with rice rava and chana dal are the principal naivedyams for Vinayaka Chavithi. “Besides these, payasam, panakam and vadapappu are also offered. Another offering is the delicious undralla payasam – bite-sized rice flour dumplings are cooked in creamy milk, jaggery and finished with coconut milk,” enthuses marketing personnel Manju Reddy from Vizakhapatnam. After offering pulihora (tamarind rice), chakkara pongali (sweet Pongal), and sundal to Vinayaka, they are distributed as prasadams among visiting devotees at neighbourhood pandals and at the iconic Khairatabad Ganesha pandal in Hyderabad.

Karnataka