Ganesha Chaturthi is almost here and devotees not just in India but all across the globe are eagerly waiting to welcome Lord Ganesha to their homes. Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm by the devotees. It is a 10-day long festival when devotees bring Lord Ganesha to their homes and worship the deity with complete dedication. On the 11th day, the devotees bid adieu to the Bappa and immerse the idol in water.
Ganesh Chaturthi brings along celebration, happiness, togetherness and of course, yummy food. Talking about food, the first dessert that comes to our mind is modak. Modak is considered the favourite of Bappa but there is one more that Ganesha loves. Can you guess what it is? We are talking about motichoor laddos. Lord Ganesha is often depicted holding laddos in his hands and this is enough to portray his immense love for these bright orange-coloured sweets. Motichoor ladoos are a popular Indian sweet made from tiny, deep-fried besan balls soaked in sugar syrup.
But what is the connection between Lord Ganesha and Motichoor ladoos? Well, there is a popular mythological tale behind this. As per legends, once Lord Ganesha had a fight lord Parshuram considered the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Amid the fight, Ganesha’s tooth broke and he was not able to eat anything as it would hurt. It was when motichoor laddos were prepared for him that would melt in his mouth. Since then, motichoor ladoos have been Lord Ganesha’s favourite and offered to him as a prasad, especially during the 10 days of Ganesh Chaturthi.
Some legends also believe that motichoor ladoos are served to Lord Ganesha to seek his blessings for the removal of obstacles and the success of new endeavours. Additionally, the round shape of ladoos is often seen as a symbol of completeness and wholeness, which aligns with the symbolism of Lord Ganesha. Since Bappa is just about to arrive, why don’t you get ready with some different motichoor ladoo recipes to serve the deity? Have a look:
While the basic recipe for motichoor ladoos remains consistent, there are variations and adaptations of this sweet that incorporate different ingredients or flavours to create unique types of motichoor ladoos.
Traditional Motichoor Ladoo
Classic motichoor ladoos have a huge fan base. Made with gram flour or besan and boondi or tiny fried balls soaked in sugar syrup, these scrumptious ladoos have a golden-yellow colour and a sweet, aromatic flavour. Make them at home and seek blessings from Ganpati Bappa.
Kesar Motichoor Ladoo
Saffron-infused motichoor ladoos have a mild saffron flavour and a beautiful yellow or orange hue, giving them a rich and luxurious taste. Saffron adds a vibrant flavour and aroma to these ladoos and elevates their taste to the next level.
Chocolate Motichoor Ladoo
While the classic motichoor ladoos have literally no competition, the chocolate motichoor ladoos could be the perfect modern take. To make these chocolaty ladoos, you just need to add cocoa powder or melted chocolate to the motichoor mixture to create a chocolaty version of the sweet.
Dry Fruit Motichoor Ladoo
These ladoos are loaded with a variety of chopped dry fruits, such as cashews, almonds, pistachios, and raisins, giving them a rich, nutty flavour and added texture. Just mix these chopped dry fruits into the motichoor ladoo mixture and serve them to the deity.
Rose Motichoor Ladoo
Motichoor ladoos when enhanced with rose water can become much flavourful and aromatic. To make these ladoos, rose water or rose essence is used to flavour the sugar syrup, giving the ladoos a subtle floral aroma and taste.