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Diwali is around the corner and the whole country is excited to celebrate the festival. Also called the ‘festival of lights’, this auspicious occasion is observed in the month of Kartik and as per the Hindu calendar, this year it falls on November 12. On this day, we light diyas, make rangolis and relish delicious delicacies.
According to the Hindu mythology, Diwali marks the win of good over evil. It is believed that on this day, Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya with his wife Sita and younger brother Laxman from a 14 year-long exile. He was welcomed with lit diyas to illuminate the atmosphere. On Diwali eve, we also worship Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi to bring health, wealth and prosperity.
There are different rituals across the country for worshipping Maa Lakshmi and Ganesh ji on this occasion. However, the bhog offered to the deities are similar in many regions. Here are the favourite foods of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi you can offer on Diwali:
Foods You Can Offer To Lord Ganesha:
Motichoor Laddoo
In many pictures and idols Lord Ganesha can be seen holding laddoos in his hands. This is enough to prove that he loves motichoor laddoos. Made with gram flour, sugar, nuts and seeds, they are soft, rich and have a mouth melting taste. It is also flavoured with black cardamom and saffron. Besides Diwali, mootichoor laddoos are also a part of many festivals and celebrations.
Modak
Ganesh ji was also given the title of ‘Modarpriya’ due to his love for modaks. This sweet and delicious mithai is very popular in the state of Maharashtra and is also prepared on Ganesh Chaturthi. Modak is made with rice flour, ghee, grated coconut and jaggery. You can also add cardamom powder to your recipe to give it a delicious and aromatic flavour.
Bananas
It is a tradition to offer seasonal fruits to deities during pujas and festivals. On Diwali, bananas are offered to Ganesh ji because in Bengal, it is believed that he married banana tree, and his wife is depicted as ‘Kala bou’ (banana lady). This yummy fruit is widely available and has many health benefits.
Foods You Can Offer To Goddess Lakshmi
Rice Kheer
“As Maa Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth, she loves those dishes that particularly symbolise prosperity, joy, and well-being. This includes milk products and dairy sweets”, says Pradeep Chand Pandit, pilgrimage priest at Baba Baidhyayanath Dham temple, Deoghar, Jharkhand. Therefore, rice kheer made with milk, rice and dry fruits is perfect to offer to the goddess.
Kheel
Priest Pradeep Chand Pandit says that Goddess Lakshmi is also known as ‘Dhanya’ because she loves 'dhan ka lava' (a kind of puffed paddy or kheel). So, offering it to the deity on Diwali puja can make her happy and this will bring you health, wealth and prosperity. Kheel is prepared by heating rice kernels on high temperature with sand or salt.
Coconut Laddoo
According to the priest of Baba Baidhyayanath Dham temple, fruits like coconut, orange and banana are also dear to the deity. So, this time offer coconut laddoos to Lakshmi ji and get her blessings. Made with coconut, milk, ghee and sugar (or jaggery), it is extremely rich and delicious in taste. They can also be lightly scented with ground cardamom.
