VINAYAKA CHAVITHI

Ganesha Chaturthi or Ganesha Festival is a day on which Lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees. It is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chavithi in Sanskrit, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu, Chavath in Konkani and Chathaa in Nepali.

It is celebrated as it is the birthday of Lord Ganesha. The festival is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). The date usually falls between 20 August and 15 September.

While celebrated all over India, it is most elaborate in Maharashtra, Goa (Biggest festival for Konkani people all over the world), Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, and other areas. Outside India, it is celebrated widely in Nepal which was only Hindu Kingdom in the world and Tamil Hindus in Sri Lanka.

Lord Ganesha-The Lord Of Power And Wisdom (Meaning)

Lord Ganesha is the elephant-headed God. He is worshipped first in any prayers. His names are repeated first before any auspicious work is begun and also before any kind of worship is begun. He is the Lord of power and wisdom. He is the eldest son of Lord Shiva and the elder brother of "Skanda" or Kartikeya. He is the energy of Lord Shiva and so He is called the son of Shankar and Uma Devi. By worshipping Lord Ganesha, mothers hope to earn for their sons the sterling virtues of Ganesha.

Prasad for the festival :

Different varieties of sweet puddings are prepared and offered to the Lord. Different varieties of fruits are also offered. The main sweet dish during the festival is the modak (modagam or modakam in South India). A modak is a dumpling made from rice flour/wheat flour with a stuffing of fresh or dry-grated coconut, jaggery, dry fruits and some other condiments. It is either steam-cooked or fried. Another popular sweet dish is the karanji (karjikai/karijikayi in Kannada) which is similar to the modak in composition and taste, but has a semicircular shape it is either steam cooked or fried. Which is also called as KOZHUKATTAI in Tamil. But when it comes to the fried variety of Karjikai the outer cover is made of maida and rava, which I will post some other day. 

KARJIKAI(Steamed variety) OR KOZHUKATTAI(Modak) / UDHU UNTALLU

In our house we offer Karjikai(Kozhukattai), Sundal [Which is done either with one or with mixed beans(Black channa, Dried peas, White channa, Green Gram) by adding some spices & seasoning], Kudumullu(Idli in Tamil) and Uddhu Untallu which is made with coarsely ground dhal seasoned and steamed.

IDLI (Kudumulu)

SUNDAL(MIXED BEAN WITH SEASONING)

" WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY GANESHA CHATURTHI "

Will post the recipes of all the prasadams in couple of days with my awards. Stay tuned.......

Here are the recipe for the vinayaka chavithi... Kozhukkattai, udhu untallu and sundal....

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