Ganesh Chaturthi, the elephant headed God’s birthday is today Sep 10, 2021 and while his love for food is legendary, it is the traditions followed in Ganesha temples that are as fascinating.

The unique food preparations at temples dedicated to Ganesha, in Maharashtra and South India are rooted in a combination of divinity, history and culture which makes them quintessentially relevant in today’s times.

While modak is almost synonymous with Ganesha, there is a mind-boggling variety of food that the elephant headed God likes.

In Karnataka’s South Canara district which is home to several Ganesha temples, the Panchakajjaya Prasada made with puffed rice or Bengal gram is commonplace. This can be seen at the Sowthadka Sri Maha Ganapathi Temple, Anegudde temple and the Guddattu Sri Vinayaka Temple in Dakshina Kannada district.

Read the fascinating tales of the food in Ganesha temples that first appeared in Zee Zest here: