Festival companion · Saturday 4 September 2027

Ganesh Chaturthi

Welcoming the remover of obstacles. Everything for one festival in one place: the story to tell, the puja, a recipe, a craft for children and a shopping list.

Tell the story

The Story of Ganesh Chaturthi

Goddess Parvati made a boy from turmeric paste and asked him to guard her door. When Shiva returned and the boy stopped him, Shiva, not knowing who he was, cut off his head.

Seeing Parvati's grief, Shiva promised to bring the boy back. The first creature found was an elephant, and its head was given to the child. Shiva named him Ganesha, leader of his ganas, and blessed him to be worshipped before every other god.

In Karnataka the day before is Gowri Habba, when Parvati comes to her mother's home, followed a day later by her son.

How families celebrate

Ganesha is welcomed home as an honoured guest, in a clay idol that is worshipped for one, three, five or ten days and then returned to water. Maharashtra celebrates with grand public pandals, Tamil Nadu calls it Vinayaka Chaturthi, and in Karnataka the day before is Gowri Habba, when his mother Gowri is worshipped first.

An eco-friendly clay idol, 21 durva grass blades, modak, kozhukattai or kadubu, Gowri Habba the day before in Karnataka, and a gentle visarjan in a bucket at home.

At home

The Puja

A simple home puja anyone can follow, plus the full vidhi with Sanskrit mantras.

Simple puja guide (English)

Detailed puja vidhi with Sanskrit mantras: Devanagari · Kannada script · Telugu script

Cook together

Ukadiche Modak

More recipes →
Maharashtra and South India · Ganesh Chaturthi

Ukadiche Modak

Steamed modak: kozhukattai in Tamil, kadubu in Kannada, kudumulu in Telugu

  • 1 hour
  • Serves 15
Ingredients and method

Ingredients

  • 1 cup rice flour
  • 1 cup water, 1 tsp ghee, pinch of salt
  • 1 cup fresh grated coconut
  • ¾ cup jaggery
  • ¼ tsp cardamom

Method

  1. Cook coconut and jaggery until thick, add cardamom, and cool.
  2. Boil water with ghee and salt, stir in rice flour, cover and rest 5 minutes, then knead smooth.
  3. Flatten a ball, pinch pleats around the edge, fill, and close at the top.
  4. Steam for 12 minutes and serve with ghee.

Ganesha's favourite. Offer 21 modaks on Chaturthi.

For children

Shape a small clay Ganesha

You need

  • Natural clay or shaadu maati (not plaster)
  • A bowl of water
  • A toothpick
  • Turmeric and kumkum

Steps

  1. Roll a big ball for the body and a smaller one for the head.
  2. Make a trunk from a rolled sausage of clay and curve it.
  3. Add ears, arms and a small mouse beside him.
  4. Let it dry, and immerse it in a bucket of water at home after the puja.

Get ready

Shopping List

Tick things off as you go, or print the list for the Indian store.

Shopping list

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