BENGALURU: Manish Kumar (33), a software engineer with V-Soft Consulting, has taken the tech-savvy route to celebrate the upcoming Ganesha festival. He has hopped onto an online puja services platform.
A menu dropdown gave Kumar the puja option, samagri (ingredient) selection and even a priest with language preference. Kumar picked his Ganesha Habba hamper at the click of a button. It will be hand-delivered to his home, complete with a pujari who will conduct the puja for two days. The priest will do the idol immersion too.
“As a working couple who moved from Ranchi to Bengaluru two years ago, we neither have the time nor the knowledge to hunt for a priest and shop for puja ingredients in the crowded bazaars. I want to carry forward my family tradition. Booking a puja online is convenient and transparent,” says Kumar.
Ganesh Chaturthi: The Importance of Modaks, Bananas & Laddoos
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Ganesh Chaturthi, one of the most auspicious festivals in the Hindu calendar, marks the beginning of the 10-day festivities. Also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, the celebrations begin with bringing home an idol of Lord Ganesha.
Like every other festival, Ganesh Chaturthi festivities are also marked by an array of delicious dishes. A major part of the menu includes foods that are known to be a favourite of Lord Ganesha. Here's a look at some of these treats.
Ganesh Chaturthi, one of the most auspicious festivals in the Hindu calendar, marks the beginning of the 10-day festivities. Also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, the celebrations begin with bringing hom..
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‘Modarpriya’ was the title given to Ganesha because of his love for modaks. According to Hindu mythology, once Goddess Parvati offered her two sons, Karthik and Ganesh, a modak. While both the brothers wanted to eat it, neither wanted to share. So as a contest she asked them to take three rounds of the world and the winner would get the modak as reward.
While Karthik left with his peacock as a ride, Ganpati stayed back and took three rounds around his parents (Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati). When asked about his action, he said that they meant the world to him.
Impressed with the gesture, he was given the modak and since then, it has been his favourite sweet.
‘Modarpriya’ was the title given to Ganesha because of his love for modaks. According to Hindu mythology, once Goddess Parvati offered her two sons, Karthik and Ganesh, a modak. While both the brothe..
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Lord Ganesha is often depicted holding laddoos in his hands, whether it is in pictures or idols. That is enough to portray his immense love for ‘motichoor ke laddoo’.
The bright orange-coloured sweet is one of the most popular prasad offered after the pooja.
Lord Ganesha is often depicted holding laddoos in his hands, whether it is in pictures or idols. That is enough to portray his immense love for ‘motichoor ke laddoo’. The bright orange-coloured sweet..
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An array of fresh seasonal fruits are offered to Ganpati during the celebrations, but his love for bananas surpasses them all. This is why people offer garlands of bananas to the elephant-headed God.
An array of fresh seasonal fruits are offered to Ganpati during the celebrations, but his love for bananas surpasses them all. This is why people offer garlands of bananas to the elephant-headed God.
When the Hindu Lord of Wealth Kuber invited Ganesha for a meal, he failed to impress the elephant-headed God. Despite the luxurious meals offered, Ganpati was not satisfied. So as a solution, Lord Shiva suggested serving a handful of roasted rice with complete devotion. It was only after eating this offering that Ganpati’s hunger was suppressed.
When the Hindu Lord of Wealth Kuber invited Ganesha for a meal, he failed to impress the elephant-headed God. Despite the luxurious meals offered, Ganpati was not satisfied. So as a solution, Lord Sh..
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Durva Grass is a three-bladed plant known to attract immense energy of Ganpati.
According to mythology, once while fighting a demon, Ganesha ended up swallowing him. This gave him a strong burning sensation in his stomach. When all else failed to provide relief, a group of sages offered 21 blades of the Durva Grass. It was after eating them that Ganpati felt some relief. Since then, it is said to be one of his favourite food items.
Durva Grass is a three-bladed plant known to attract immense energy of Ganpati. According to mythology, once while fighting a demon, Ganesha ended up swallowing him. This gave him a strong burning se..
Many migrants and young professionals have taken to these online platforms for religious needs like Ganesha puja, house-warming ceremony, vehicle puja to child-naming ceremony. The takers are predominantly in the 25-45 age group and living in IT hubs such as Whitefield, Electronics City, Marathahalli and Hebbal. Online priest Seshu Swamy, who has his diary full with 15 bookings for Ganesha puja, primarily from Electronics City and KR Puram, said: “About 20 years ago, I had to depend on word-of-mouth publicity for puja bookings. Collaborating with online puja platforms five years ago has given me a 75% rise in my bookings”.
According to puja startup experts, the Indian spiritual and religious market, one of the largest unorganised segments, is valued at $40 billion. India, with a population of over 1.2 billion, is home to 330 million gods and goddesses. They note that Bengaluru, being a city of young migrants, is a potential market.
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Inspired by this concept popularly used by NRIs in the US, Kalpaja Dalavoi Adhikesavulu started Puja N Pujari six months ago. “Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated differently across cities. With our online platform, migrants and locals get to pick a puja style and purohit according to their state and language preference,” she said.
From cleaning and decorating the house to preparing mouthwatering ‘modaks’, Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most looked forward festivals of the year.
With the big day just around the corner, it's time to look for the the best ideas to decorate ‘Bappa's’ house.
Check out these simple, yet elegant, decor tips and tricks for Ganesh Chaturthi.
From cleaning and decorating the house to preparing mouthwatering ‘modaks’, Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most looked forward festivals of the year.
With the big day just around the corner, it'..
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Candles are a cliché and don't last longer. Try something new, for example lanterns. Put your unused, old glass jars to good use. This pocket-friendly trick will make your the decoration look prettier.
To turn these jars into lanterns, place small LED bulbs inside and beautify it with glitters. Hang them around or keep them in different corners of the house.
Candles are a cliché and don't last longer. Try something new, for example lanterns. Put your unused, old glass jars to good use. This pocket-friendly trick will make your the decoration look prett..
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Make use of the old, unused sarees and drapes. This is one of the most budget-friendly ways to give the mandap a classy look.
Cut out the sarees and just hang them around. You can also try adding beads to it or a more elegant look.
Make use of the old, unused sarees and drapes. This is one of the most budget-friendly ways to give the mandap a classy look.
Cut out the sarees and just hang them around. You can also try addin..
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Enjoyed origami as a child? Try the paper art this year for decorating 'Bappa's' mandap. Get creative and make trees, flowers and rivers, or try to make Ganesha-motifs with paper.
Use colourful origami sheets to make birds, butterflies, and decorate it on the wall.
Enjoyed origami as a child? Try the paper art this year for decorating 'Bappa's' mandap. Get creative and make trees, flowers and rivers, or try to make Ganesha-motifs with paper.
Use colourful o..
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You can never get it wrong wth diyas. Bring home simple, earthen lamps, and decorate them the way you like.
Use acrylic colours to paint them, make designs with glitter or beads, and brighten up your home with the simple, yet elegant, piece.
You can never get it wrong wth diyas. Bring home simple, earthen lamps, and decorate them the way you like.
Use acrylic colours to paint them, make designs with glitter or beads, and brighten up ..
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Flowers are one of the most important elements of Ganesh Chaturthi. Deck-up your mandap with pretty flowers. Flowers add an aura of positivity, colour and liveliness to the decoration.
Flowers are one of the most important elements of Ganesh Chaturthi. Deck-up your mandap with pretty flowers. Flowers add an aura of positivity, colour and liveliness to the decoration.
Likewise, Nishchay Chaturvedi (38) quit his IT job to launch Smartpuja.in two years ago. The puja portal gives users 16 language options for a priest besides an extensive menu of puja ceremonies. “For Ganesha puja, we have received 90 bookings. It was 55 last year.” Chaturvedi has seen a 62% growth in his revenue since 2017.
Housejoy, online home services marketplace, too added pandit services early this year. According to CEO Saran Chaterjee, the vertical has been receiving over 500 queries per month across cities, with Bengaluru performing the best.
“Over six months, we have fulfilled over 1,000 bookings in Bengaluru alone,” he said.
