Ganesh Chaturthi 2023: 7 Foods That Lord Ganesha Loves

Ganpati Bappa is coming to visit us this year, and we are getting our homes ready to welcome him into our lives and our hearts. Lord Ganesha is known to be the God who showers blessings of prosperity, knowledge, and wealth, which are denoted by "Riddhi-Siddhi" in Hindu mythology. And if Lord Ganesha is giving us so much by coming into our homes, we need to make his stay pleasant by offering the foods that he loves to eat. So, here are seven foods that Ganesha loves that you should definitely add to his prasad thali.

Motichoor Laddu:

This sweet laddu is known to be Ganesha’s favourite food. It is the first thing that is offered to him, as he loves this dessert. There is a famous story behind Ganesha's preference for motichoor laddus. It is said that Ganpati fought with the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu, Parshuram, during which his tooth broke. He could not eat anything as it would hurt, so he was fed laddus, made with ghee and saffron, which would melt in his mouth.

Modak:  

Modak is also Ganpati’s favourite sweet. It is said that Mata Parvati and her mother Menavati would make soft modaks for both Ganesha and Karthik. And a story involving both became the reason why modaks are a part of Lord Ganesha’s prasad. Once, Goddess Parvati got one modak and asked Ganesha and Kartik to share it amongst themselves, but both wanted it for themselves.

So, she asked them to perform three parikramas of the whole universe, and whoever finished first would get to have the modak. While Karthik went to take 3 rounds of the universe literally, Lord Ganesha took 3 rounds around Lord Shiva and Parvati because, according to him, they were his world. Impressed by his intelligence, his mother awarded him that modak. 

Banana:

According to mythology, Lord Ganesha is also known as Gajanana due to the elephant head that was fixed to his body when Lord Shiva cut off his head as a child. So, just like elephants love bananas, he does too. In Bengali customs, a banana tree is also worshipped along with Lord Ganesha during Durga Pujo as his kola bou.

Chuda Ghasa:

Recipe - PriyaShree Food&Fashion

Ganesha Chaturthi is a huge festival in the state of Odisha, and the most important prasad offered here is a no-cook dish called chuda ghasa. Flattened or beaten rice is mixed with ghee, grated coconut flesh, and seasonal fruits and offered to Lord Ganesha, as it is believed that he loves this simple prasad.

Dhurva:

Ganesha is known for his love for food. He likes to eat many things and enjoys hearty meals. So, after a big meal, he felt uneasy, and no remedy could make him feel better. That is when he was fed 21 blades of dhurva grass, and he instantly recovered. Since then, dhurva has been a part of Lord Ganesha’s prasad, so that after all the sweets and fruits, he can also consume the 21 dhurva blades. 

Puffed Rice

The best way to impress Ganesha is to feed him his favourite foods, as he loves to eat big, satisfying meals. Knowing this, Lord Kuber invited him to his palace and fed him everything possible. But Ganesha was still not satisfied, as Kuber was doing all of this just to show off his wealth. In the end, Ganesha’s hunger was satisfied by a handful of puffed rice, which was given to him with nothing but love from Kuber. So, puffed rice is a very important part of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.

Kheer:

No festival in India is complete without kheer, payasam, or payesh, as it is called in different parts of the country. Lord Ganesha is offered many types of kheers, but a simple rice pudding is his favourite. The legend goes like this: Once, Lord Ganesha, disguised as a small boy, went around a village with rice and milk, asking people to make him kheer, but everyone laughed at him. An old lady on the outskirts of the village took his rice and started making kheer. He was so happy with the kindness of the woman that he blessed her with wealth and prosperity. So, it is said that Lord Ganesha blesses anyone who offers him kheer.