Yes!!! It’s festival time and all we can think of festival time apart from the celebrations is the Foooooooooood. 

Based on the Hindu calendar, the 10-day Ganesha Chaturthi festival , also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of the Hindu god Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity. It begins with the installation of an idol of Lord Ganesha in most households, to celebrate the festival and worship the Lord in a special way and culminates with the procession leading to Ganesha Visarjan (submerging the idol in waters).  Various types of food items are prepared that are said to be the favourites of lord ganesha. Some people hold a fast for the entire day and break the fast in the evening with the delicious spread. While the crowd is usually humongous, you would appreciate it owing to the sheer energy and thrill that brings in the famous Western India festival of Ganesha Chaturthi. 

Although celebrated throughout India, the festival has a heightened presence in the western region of the country (especially in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Goa). The Mumbai Ganesha Utsav is, of course, the biggest spectacle of all, drawing in lakhs of devotees from across the city and the entire country.  

Here are some popular bhog recipes offered and consumed during the course of Ganesh Chaturthi 

  • Modak -  also known as steamed dumplings are made with rice flour, coconut, and jaggery and are steamed to perfection. Several types of Modak can be made with different fillings like dal, vegetables etc. Amongst them Steamed modak, dry fruit modak, chocolate modak, fried modak are practiced to prepare across India and offered as prasad.
  • Puran Poli Pooran/Puran Poli - a delicious sweet dish offered to Ganapati which comprises a roti or flatbread made of wheat flour(maida) stuffed with sweet filling like sweet lentils, jaggery and coconut. 
  • Ladoos -  are sweet balls made of gram flour, rava, or any dry fruits mixed with ghee and sugar. Motichoor Ladoo is one of the most common form of ladoos offered to him in his bhog. Other melt-in mouth ladoos that are popular are Coconut Ladoo, Til ke Ladoo, Motichoor Ladoo, Atta Ladoo etc.

Most of these sweets contain food contents that are healthy for our body :

  • Wheat flour supplies carbs for energizing the body and dietary fibers which aid in digestion. 
  • Chana dal/Moong dal is a rich source of proteins which are required for building muscle mass. 
  • Jaggery is healthier when compared to sugar as it provides iron, essential for blood production and transport. 
  • Cardamom and nutmeg are standard condiments in Indian sweets that are abundant in antioxidants and minerals, vital for immunity and bone health.
  • Rice flour contains carbohydrates needed for metabolic activities. 
  • Ghee provides fats for healthy growth and development. 
  • Coconut is free of cholesterol and sodium, aiding in heart health and lowering blood pressure. It also supplies useful medium-chain triglycerides, which improve high bp symptoms, maintaining a normal blood pressure range. 
  • Curry leaves are a rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants, for boosting immunity and removing toxins from the body.

Although, high on protein and low on cholesterol, for us to relish with near and dear ones, still most of concern especially when most of it is because of added sugar which doesn’t offer any benefits in reality. So, weight watchers and those suffering from diabetes and heart related diseases as well as those aiming a healthy lifestyle need to definitely stay steer of these ingredient, though rich in taste.

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