Ganesh Chaturthi Special: Five food items to relish during festivities

The 10-day-long festivities of Ganesh Chaturthi kick started on Wednesday, August 31. The festival will end with the immersion of Lord Ganesha idols, called the Visarjan, on September 9. Here are some of the food items you can make at home and relish as you get more soaked up in the festivities ahead.

Modaks, also known as sweet dumplings, are considered to be Ganpati's favourite sweet dish and hence it is difficult to find a house celebrating the festival without modaks at their house. Devotees offer Lord Ganesha 'bhog' of modaks on the first day of the festival. Its is made from rice flour, maida or even white flour. These modaks are filled with coconut, dry fruits and jaggery.

Sheera is a traditional halwa made with suji, lots of dry fruits and ghee. A lot of people add bananas to the traditional sheera and serve them as offerings on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi.

Maharashtrains enjoy making Puran Polis, a festive dish, almost at every auspicious occasion. During ten days of festivities, several Maharashtrians offer bhog of Puran Poli to Lord Ganesha. Puran Poli, served with modak is one of the most popular bhog served to Ganpati during Ganesh Chaturthi.

Coconut ladoo is another popular sweet dish prefered by Indians during festive seasons. These ladoos, made from coconut, are offered as bhog on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. It is prepared using dry roasted coconut milk.

Payasam is South India's traditional sweet dish kheer cooked with the help of rice cooked with milk, jaggery, coconut, and cardamom.