Ganpati Bappa is here to bless us with his presence, and people across the country are celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi with pomp and show. As we all know, Lord Ganesha loves sweets. Especially laddoo. So, a lot of people do extravagant celebrations to please him with their love and devotion. Panda Para Club in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, decided to go the extra mile and make a 51kg huge laddu to offer Lord Ganesha.
The club has been celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi for some time, and this year, they wanted to do something unique and special. So, the members came up with the idea of this gigantic 51-kg laddoo. It will first be offered to Ganesha and then distributed among the devotees who come to visit the pandal.
The laddoo took 3 days to prepare and make, and the cost of making this laddoo turned out to be near Rs 25,000. The locals are really intrigued by this idea and are coming to see this huge laddoo bhog on display. This is the first time that something this unique has been done in the area for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.
Recipe - Divya's Healthy Kitchen
The reason behind offering laddoo to Ganesha is an interesting one. It is said that once Lord Ganesha lost one of his teeth while fighting with Lord Vishnu’s avatar, Parshuram. He had difficulty eating anything that was solid, so Mata Parvati gave him ghee-laden, soft laddoos to eat. Since then, it has become his favourite dessert, and every year during Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, laddoos are a major part of the celebration. Here are four types of laddoos you can offer Ganpati.
Motichoor Laddoo:
This laddoo is the most popular choice during Ganesh Chaturthi. These soft, melt-in-the-mouth laddoos are Ganesha’s absolute favourite and the first thing that is offered to him as bhog. You can decorate your motichoor laddoo with dry fruits and chandi-parat.
Dry Fruit Laddoo:
Dry fruit laddoos are a healthier option, made with a mix of chopped nuts like almonds, cashews, pistachios, and raisins. Dates or jaggery are often used to bind the mixture together. These laddoos are not only tasty but also nutritious.
Besan Laddoo:
Besan laddoo is yet another traditional favourite. It's made by roasting gram flour with ghee and then adding powdered sugar, cardamom, and nuts. The mixture is rolled into round balls to create delicious besan laddoos, perfect for Bappa.
Coconut Laddoo:
These laddoos are made with grated coconut, sugar, and cardamom. They are usually flavoured with a hint of ghee and garnished with chopped nuts. Another version of these laddoos is made with jaggery and a little hint of kapoor.