Ganesh Chaturthi is one such festival not only celebrated in India but abroad too. On this auspicious day, devotees welcome their beloved Bappa to their homes and worship with utmost dedication for the next 10 days. On the last day, devotees with teary eyes, bid adieu to Bappa and immerse his idol in a water body. They worship the deity for health, wealth, prosperity, success, happiness, and more and eagerly wait for Bappa to come back the next year.
This year, Ganesh Chaturthi is on the 19th of September and devotees are all set to welcome Lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha is known for his love for food. So, devotees offer modak, motichoor laddoos, kheer, banana-based desserts, and so much more to the deity. Since Ganesh Chaturthi marks the welcome of Bappa, there are many Maharashtrian households that prepare a massive feast to celebrate the occasion. Not just households but several popular restaurants and eateries prepare special dishes on Ganesh Chaturthi and their menu remains the same for the next ten days of the festival.
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Recently, Slurrp caught up with Jayanti Kathale, owner of Purnabramha, a chain of vegetarian restaurants that specializes in authentic Maharashtrian cuisine not just in India, but also abroad, and talked about Ganesh Chaturthi. “For me, festivals have always been a symphony of traditions, emotions, and the magical world of culinary delights", told Jayanti.
She added, “At Purnabramha, we don't just serve food, but we narrate the story of its creation. When our ancestors curated festival-specific dishes, they married taste with well-being.”
Image credits: Unsplash
“Pandemic made the last two years challenging but this year, the festive spirit is back with a bang! Dhingana dhol-tashe, our special Mahaganpati Thali, and storytelling sessions from our elderly patrons promise to make this season memorable. We believe in celebrating the festival with a perfect blend of fun and tradition. We have amazing challenges associated with our special Mahaganpati thali. Also, we have the “11 Modak Free” challenge that you can win if you write all of Lord Ganesha's names in one go, ten delightful Modaks are on the house", she added.
This Ganesh Chaturthi, savour a scrumptious Maharashtrian Thali with classic Maharashtrian dishes below. Have a look:
Masala Bhat
Masala Bhat is a classic Maharashtrian dish comprising rice mixed with vegetables and a special blend of spices popularly called Goda Masala. Masala bhat tastes great when served with a raita or any spicy gravy. Garnish it with freshly grated coconut and enjoy it on Ganesh Chaturthi.
Katachi Amti
This traditional dish is a Maharashtrian-style tangy and spicy dal made from yellow chana dal’s leftover water. With chilies, aromatic garam masala, curry leaves and tempered with mustard. As per experts, when chana dal is cooked to make puran poli, its leftover is used to make this delicious dal. Typically enjoyed with puran poli, this dal also goes well with rice.
Puran Poli
And when it’s a traditional Maharashtrian Thali, how can we not have puran poli? It is a sweet flatbread made from wheat flour and stuffed with a mixture of chana dal, jaggery, and spices. It is made at festivals, especially Ganesh Chaturthi.
Batata Bhaji
Batata bhai is a traditional Maharashtrian spicy potato curry made with mustard seeds, curry leaves, turmeric, and other spices. It's a common accompaniment to puri or chapati and is a simple and wholesome dish for your Maharashtrian thali.
Puri
Puri is a popular flatbread made of wheat flour and deep-fried. It's often served with potato curry and when it is Ganesh Chaturthi, you just can’t miss having it with the scrumptious Batata Bhaji.
Modak
Ganesh Chaturthi is incomplete without modak, isn’t it? Modak is considered Lord Ganesha's favorite sweet. These are sweet dumplings made from rice flour or wheat flour and filled with a mixture of grated coconut, jaggery, and cardamom. Have it in your Maharashtrian thali and enjoy it to the fullest.