From Modak to Puran Poli: The Stories Behind Ganesh Chaturthi’s Favourite Sweets

Some foods belong to a festival; and some almost ARE the festival.

Come Ganesh Chaturthi, the aroma of steaming modaks, freshly made puran polis and bowls of creamy shrikhand fills homes across Maharashtra and Western India. These aren't simply sweets prepared for a celebration. They are offerings, symbols of devotion, expressions of hospitality and recipes carried forward through generations.

Behind each one is a story; some rooted in mythology, some in household lore, and all shaped by the way food brings people closer to the divine and to each other.

As we welcome Bappa home, let's take a closer look at the stories behind some of Ganesh Chaturthi's most beloved sweets.

Modak: Bappa’s undisputed favourite

The distinctive pleated shape of the modak is one of the most recognisable symbols of Ganesh Chaturthi. But did you know that shape is said to resemble the path to spiritual enlightenment? With its tough outer layer made of rice flour shell and an intensely sweet core of jaggery and coconut, the modak symbolises that the outer world may require hard work and discipline, but the reward within is the absolute sweetness of divine wisdom. 

According to a folk tale, the Devas once brought Shiva and Parvati a divine modak infused with the nectar of supreme wisdom. Both their sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya, both wanted it, so Parvati set them a challenge: whoever circled the universe three times and returned first would win the sweet.

Kartikeya immediately hopped onto his swift mount, the peacock, and sped off across the cosmos. Ganesha, with his heavy build and slow vehicle (the mouse), knew he couldn't win a race of physical speed. Instead, he walked around his parents three times with deep reverence. When asked why, Ganesha replied that his parents contained the entire universe within them. 

Touched by his profound wisdom and devotion, Parvati proudly handed him the divine modak. Since that day, the modak became his eternal symbol of intelligence and victory. 

In Maharashtra, the ukadiche modak became particularly intertwined with Ganesh Chaturthi: a soft rice-flour covering filled with coconut and jaggery, then steamed. And while the traditional version remains a favourite, modak has evolved with the times. Chocolate, dry-fruit, kesar and fried versions have all found their place in modern celebrations.

Karanji: Modak’s graceful sibling

In Maharashtrian folklore, Modak and Karanji are playfully referred to as sibling sweets; the brother and sister. Modak, with its neat, upright, crown-like pleats, is viewed as the "royal brother," representing Lord Ganesha himself. Karanji, with its beautifully frilled, delicate, crescent shape, is viewed as the "graceful sister," representing Ganesha’s sister, Goddess Jyoti, or his mother, Goddess Gauri.

According to household lore, Ganesha refused to sit for his grand festival feast unless his "sister" Karanji was served right next to him. Making both sweets together ensures complete familial harmony and pleases the entire divine family.

The process of making Karanji involves a unique, traditional tool called a Karanji Kapan or Chirna - a small brass wheel spoon used to cut zig-zag patterns along the edges of the dough. In rural traditions, the rhythmic sound of cutting and shaping Karanjis in a kitchen filled with women singing Ganesha hymns is considered highly auspicious, believed to ward off evil energies and invite the playful spirit of "Bappa" straight into the home.

Puran Poli: The humble symbol of heartfelt devotion

Some festive foods announce themselves with elaborate shapes and decorations. Puran poli doesn't need to. It arrives warm, soft and fragrant; and usually disappears just as quickly.

In Maharashtrian and Konkani traditions, Lord Ganesha is treated not just as a god, but as a beloved, revered family member who is visiting from Mount Kailash. And a traditional Maharashtrian feast for a highly respected guest is considered incomplete without Puran Poli. Offering it to Ganesha symbolizes the highest level of warmth, love, and hospitality a family can provide.

During the festival, Ganesha’s mother, Goddess Gauri (Jyeshtha Gauri), is also brought home for three days. Puran Poli is the absolute mandatory Naivedya (offering) cooked on the main day of Gauri Puja to honor the Mother Goddess and her son together.

A Maharashtrian staple made from a sweet filling of chana dal and jaggery encased in a thin flatbread, puran poli has long been part of festive cooking across Maharashtra. During celebrations, making a large batch can become a family affair, with the filling prepared in advance and each poli rolled out and cooked one after another.

A warm puran poli is traditionally served with ghee, which melts into the surface and settles into every fold of the bread. The combination of jaggery, cardamom and warm ghee is so familiar that, for many people, puran poli simply doesn't feel complete without it.

Shrikhand: The sweet that found its place at the festive table

Shrikhand begins with something deceptively simple: yoghurt. 

Traditionally, yoghurt is hung to remove its excess water, leaving behind a thick, creamy base. It is then transformed with sugar, saffron, cardamom and nuts. 

A popular folk story revolves around Lord Ganesha's legendary love for eating. Once, after a grand feast hosted by his parents, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, Ganesha was still feeling slightly unsatisfied and heavy from eating too many fiery and rich dishes. To soothe his stomach and delight his sweet tooth, Parvati mixed dense, strained yogurt with unrefined sugar, saffron, and cardamom. Ganesha devoured the cool, creamy blend and was instantly pacified. Because of this lore, devotees offer Shrikhand to "Bappa" during the hot late-monsoon days of the festival to provide him comfort and joy.

In Western India, a celebratory meal is considered incomplete without Shrikhand. It is traditionally paired with hot, fluffy puris served with hot and spicy curried potatoes. 

More than just sweets

What makes Ganesh Chaturthi sweets special isn’t just the recipes or how they’re made. It's the stories and rituals that each one carries. 

A modak carries layers of wisdom. Karanji carries the warmth of family. Puran poli is an expression of devotion and hospitality, made even richer with a generous spoonful of ghee. And shrikhand brings its own tale of comfort and celebration to the table.

So this Ganesh Chaturthi, when you bite into that first modak, pause for a second.

There's a lot of history and a lot of love in that little sweet.

Ganpati Bappa Morya!

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