Ganesh Chaturthi 2023: 7 Traditional Goan Delicacies For The Festive Occasion (2024)

FAQs

What do they eat in Goa during Ganesh Chaturthi? ›

Goans love their dessert and the pais is a popular one made during Ganesh Chaturthi (Chavath). The Goan payas is a mix of milk, rice, sugar and dried fruits with some spices such as cardamom or cinnamon added for flavour.

Modak, a sweet dumpling filled with jaggery and coconut, is synonymous with Ganesh Chaturthi. Legend has it that it's Ganesha's favourite sweet, and no celebration is complete without it. Whether it's the traditional steamed modak or the crispy fried version, this delicacy is a must-have.

On the Chovoth day, in the morning or evening, a clay idol of Ganapati is brought home. Before that a matov (a small pandal above the place where the idol is place) is prepared with bunches of betel nut, coconut, bananas and branches of mango-trees being necessary ingredients of it.

Every year, his birth is celebrated with a 10-day festival, during which four main rituals, namely Prana Pratishta, Shodashopachara, Uttarpuja, and Ganpati Visarjan are performed.

We bring to you five healthy fruits that Lord Ganesha like apple, banana, guava, pomegranate and sweet lime. It makes a spiritual and a peaceful gift.

Modak: One of Lord Ganesha's most favourite foods is modak. Modaks for rice flour dumplings with sweet fillings that are steamed to perfection. Most of Ganesha's idols can be seen holding a modak.

Modak: These sweet, steamed or fried dumplings filled with coconut, jaggery, and cardamom are Lord Ganesha's favorite and symbolize His love for sweets. 2. Ukadiche Modak: A variant of Modak, these steamed rice flour dumplings are stuffed with coconut, jaggery, and sesame seeds. 3.

Why are sweets offered to Lord Ganesha? Ganeshji loves three things the most, Laddoo, Modak and Durva grass. He is called Lambodar and loves eating sweets along with Durva.

To worship Lord Ganesha during this festival, one must clean the house, welcome the idol, and offer durva grass, flowers, modaks, and karanji. The idol is placed on a raised platform, prayers and mantras are recited, and rituals such as Padya Samarpan and panchamrita snaman are performed.

What is special in Ganesh Chaturthi? ›

Ganesh Chaturthi, in Hinduism, 10-day festival marking the birth of the elephant-headed deity Ganesha, the god of prosperity and wisdom. It begins on the fourth day (chaturthi) of the month of Bhadrapada (August–September), the sixth month of the Hindu calendar.

Before you start your (puja) worship, you should light the diya. Offer ladoos, modaks, or other treats to Ganesha. Ladoos and modaks are sweet treats and are Ganesha's favorite sweets. Offering these treats to Ganesha will help bring his benevolence upon you.

In this blog, we dive deep into the significance of these five delectable delights – modaks, Panchamrut, Puran Poli, coconut rice, and kheer – to uncover the stories that make them an integral part of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.

Cover your Ganesha idol with a red 'chunari' or cloth while welcoming Bappa home. While doing the 'sthapana' of the Lord Ganesha idol, the auspicious directions are east, west or north-east. Ganpati Bappa should be welcomed with shankh, bells and a lot of festive-like vibes.

The Goa Food and Cultural Festival

Held annually along the picturesque Mandovi River in Panaji, it features an array of food stalls offering everything from traditional Goan dishes to international cuisines. Seafood lovers can indulge in local specialties like fish curry, prawn balchão, and crab xec xec.

Source Goan fish curry or the Xitti Kodi is the staple diet of every Goan making it a famous food of Goa. The Goan fish curry is loaded with various spices along with coconut. Raw mango is also used to give the dish a tangy flavour.

In Goa, the 'matoli' is an interesting concept that gets one close to nature. It is basically a wooden canopy that is hung above the idol of Ganesha and is decorated with seasonal wildflowers, fruits, roots leaves and creepers.