Thursday, September 9, 2010

Ganesh Chaturthi/ ganesh pooja special recepie

Story of Lord Ganesha


Ganesh Chaturthi, the birth anniversary of Lord Ganeshji, is celebrated with great pomp and show in India. It is a popular Hindu festival that is celebrated in a grand manner every year According to the Hindu calendar; the festival comes on the 4th day of Bhadarva Shukla-Paksh and falls around August or September. Though celebrated all over India, Ganesh Chaturthi has its celebrations grandest in Maharashtra. The festival is celebrated for about 7-10 days. On the day of the Chaturthi, i.e. the last day dedicated to the elephant-headed god, shrines are erected, firecrackers let off, and huge images of Ganeshji are carried in grand procession for 'Ganesh Visarjan', accompanied by the sound of devotional songs and drums.

India is a land of festival and celebrations and Lord Ganesh is known for his inclination towards sweets. Therefore, a festival dedicated to Lord Ganesha will always be incomplete without special sweet dishes. There are a variety of sweets made on this occasion, with the most popular one being Modak. The worshippers visit Ganesh temples on this day, to perform Puja and offer many other sweets and milk to idols of Lord Ganeshji. The enjoyment of this ten days festivals can be doubled by preparing sweets and delicacies, like Besan Ke Ladoo, Motichoor Ke Ladoo, Kaju Ke Barfi, Puliyodarai,Karanji, Puran Poli Modak, Rawa Ladoo and Moong Dal Ka Halwa. Lets us check out the recipes for these sweet dishes.

Besan Ke Ladoo
Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival dedicated to the Lord Ganesha, who is well known for his love and inclination towards sweets like modak and besan ke ladoo. Therefore, it is of prime importance to offer the Lord besan ke laddu on this special occasion. No doubt, these ladoos are very tasty and are loved by almost everyone.

Kaju Ke Barfi
Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival dedicated to Lord Ganesha, who is known for his inclination towards sweets. So, how can the celebrations be complete without the inclusion of a few sweets? One of the sweets that are most commonly made around Ganesh Chaturthi is kaju barfi. What are you waiting for? Bring good luck and prosperity into your home, by celebrating the occasion with mouth watering kaju barfi.

Karanji
Ganesh Chaturthi is a very popular festival, which is celebrated all over India, over a period of ten days. The celebration includes fasting, feasting and distribution Prasad (sweets offered to Lord Ganesha). Karanji is one of the special recipes for Ganesh Chaturthi. It is very easy to cook and great to eat. Go ahead and enjoy the occasion by preparing delicious Karanji and soaking yourself completely in the festive spirit.

Modak
Modak is a famous Indian sweet, prepared especially on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. It is known as Lord Ganesha's favorite sweet. Thus, majority of the people consider it a must to make Modak on the very first day of Ganesh Chaturthi. The celebrations are regarded incomplete without Modak, a sweet that is greatly associated to Ganesh Chaturthi.

Motichoor Ke Ladoo
Motichoor Laddu is thought to be the favorite food of Lord Ganesha. In fact, the sweet also finds a mention in the aarti of lord Ganesha, where a line goes "ladduan ka bhog lage, sant Karen seva". So, when it is occasion of Lord Ganesha's birthday i.e. Ganesh chaturthi, then how one can forget to make the sweetmeat.

Puliyodarai
Ganesh Chaturthi or Ganesh Utsav is celebrated all across India and is also the biggest festival in Maharashtra. This festival is celebrated with great fervor and joy. People gather together with their family and friends to celebrate the birthday of Lord Ganesha. And as it is a birthday celebration, it cannot go without food. Various special dishes are prepared on this special day and offered to the Lord. One of the most famous recipes prepared on this occasion is Puliyodarai.

Puran Poli
Ganesh chaturthi is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha across India. According to Indian traditions, dishes such as halwa and puri are must to be added in the menu of the birthday celebrations. Same is the case with the birthday of Gods. Ganesh chaturthi celebration witnesses with the preparation of lots of delicious dishes and one of them is Puran Poli.

Rawa Ladoo
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha. It is believed that Ganesh Ji is fond of sweet food and thus, His birthday is celebrated with variety of sweets and other dishes. A special sweet dish called Modak and many other sweets, along with milk, is offered to idols of Lord Ganeshji at home and in temples. One famous sweet dish which is usually prepared on Ganesh Chaturthi is Rawa Ladoo.

Moong Dal Ka Halwa
Lord Ganesh is very fond of food, especially, and this is why a long list of recipes is prepared on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. Traditionally, the devotees during prepare several recipes to offer to Lord Ganesha, on his birthday. Moong Dal Ka Halwa is among these delicacies. This year, make the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi sweeter, preparing mouth watering Moong Dal Ka Halwa.
The next posts consists of ganesh pooja special recepies


Puliyodarai

Ingredients

Gingely oil - 2tbsp
Tmaraind paste - 1 1/2 tbsp
Peanuts - 20 (skinned and dry roasted)
Mustard seeds - 1tsp
Urad dal - 2 tsp
Channa dal - 2tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
Whole red chillies - 5
Vellam/Jaggaery - 2tsp
Perungayam/Asafoedita - 1/4 tsp
Salt - as needed


Dry roast and powder

Red chillies - 15
Vendhayam/Fenugreek seeds - 2 tsp
Sesame seeds - 2tsp
Curry leaves - 5


Method

Mix tamarind paste in 1 cup of water.Dry roast and powder the ingredients listed under.In apn, heat gingely oil and fry mustard seeds,urad dal,channa dal,red chillies.Now add red chilli powder,turmeric powder,asafoedita,powdered mixture,salt and tamarind.Let it boil until the oil separates.Now add jaggery and roasted peanuts to this and keep it heat for 2 minutes.Now switch off the heat.You can store this mix in the refrigetor for weeks.Take required amount of puliyodarai mix to make puliyodarai.

Motichoor Ke Laddu

 Recipe

Ingredients

    * 2 ½ cups Gram Flour (not superfine variety)
    * 500 ml Milk
    * 1/2 tsp Cardamom Powder
    * 3 cups Ghee
    * A fine-holed Shallow Strainer Spoon

For Syrup

    * 2 1/2 cups Sugar
    * 3 1/2 cups Water
    * 2 tbsp. Milk
    * 3 cups Ghee

Method

For Syrup

    * Put sugar and water in a vessel and boil.
    * When sugar dissolves, add milk.
    * Boil for 5 minutes till scum forms on top.
    * Strain and return to fire.
    * Add color and boil till sticky but no thread has formed.
    * Add cardamom powder and mix. Keep aside.

For Boondi

    * Mix flour and milk to a smooth batter
    * Mix all the ingredients mentioned under stuffing except milk
    * Heat ghee in a heavy frying pan
    * Hold strainer on top with one hand
    * With the other pour some batter all over the holes
    * Tap gently till all batter has fallen into hot ghee
    * Stir with another strainer and remove when light golden
    * Keep aside. Repeat for remaining batter

Final Steps

    * Immerse boondi in syrup.
    * Drain any excess syrup.
    * Spread in a large plate. Sprinkle little hot water over it.
    * Cover and keep for 5 minutes.
    * Shape in laddoos with moist palms.
    * Cool and keep open to dry, before storing in containers.

Modak



Ingredients

    * 3 cups Rice Flour
    * 6 cups Water
    * 6 tsp Oil
    * 4 cups Grated Coconut
    * 2 cups Sugar or Powdered Jaggery
    * A little Milk

Method

    * Bring the water to a boil and add oil into it for the outer covering. Take off heat.
    * Now add the rice flour, little by little to avoid lumps and cover the mixture and let it cool.
    * When cool, knead it well into dough with a smooth finish in such a way that it should sparkle.
    * Now take the coconut and Jaggery / sugar in a heavy-bottomed pan for the stuffing. Add milk. Keep on low flame with stirring. Stir and take off heat.
    * The mixture should be fairly dry and turn a shade darker. Now make balls with the (covering) dough.
    * Flatten them on the palm or on a surface into a circle. Place the stuffing in it and cover it completely with the dough.
    * Fold the edges tapering to the centre. Now steam-cook the modaks in a cooker for 15 minutes until done.


Karanji Recipe



Ingredients

    * 1 cup Wheat Flour
    * 3 tbsp Ghee
    * 1 pinch Salt
    * ½ litre Oil (for frying)
    * 1 cup Grated Coconut
    * 3¼ cups Sugar
    * 1½ cups Milk
    * Few Almonds
    * Few Raisins
    * 1/2 tsp Cardamom Powder
    * 1 tbsp Poppy seeds

Method

Basic
In a bowl mix salt, flour and ghee. Rub in well. Gradually add water and knead to form firm dough. Cover with wet cloth and set aside.

For Stuffing
Cook the coconut (use fresh or dried), sugar, milk, chopped almonds and raisins, cardamom powder, and poppy seeds (optional) till the milk evaporate.

The Rest

    * Divide the dough into 20-25 sections, roll them out into flat round pancakes. Place a spoon of stuffing at the centre and fold the pancake in half.
    * Use a cutter to create the fluted crescent border and cut off excess dough. You can seal the edges by applying a little milk and pressing down hard.
    * After all the karanjis are stuffed, fry them in very hot oil for 2-3 minutes or till golden brown, remove onto paper towels and allow to cool.

Kaju Barfi


Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival dedicated to Lord Ganesha, who is known for his inclination towards sweets. So, how can the celebrations be complete without the inclusion of a few sweets? One of the sweets that are most commonly made around Ganesh Chaturthi is kaju barfi. What are you waiting for? Bring good luck and prosperity into your home, by celebrating the occasion with mouth watering kaju barfi. You can learn to make delicious kaju barfi by following the recipe detailed in the lines below.

Kaju Barfi Recipe

Ingredients

    * 2 cups Cashew Nuts (soaked in water for 2 hours)
    * 1 cup Powdered Sugar
    * 1 tbsp Ghee
    * 1/2 tsp Cardamom Powder
    * Silver Foil (optional)

Method

    * Drain and blend the cashews to a fine paste. Use as little water as possible when blending.
    * Now in a saucepan make syrup with sugar and water and Cook on slow to medium heat.
    * Cook stirring continuously till a soft lump is formed. Add ghee and cardamom powder and mix well
    * Remove from heat on to a smooth surface and roll out (thin) quickly with a rolling pin. Cut into squares/diamond shapes.

Moong Dal Ka Halwa Recipe



Ingredients

    * 1½ cup Moong Dal, soaked
    * 3/4 cup Mawa, well crumpled
    * 1 cup Sugar
    * 1½ liter Milk
    * 1/2 tsp Saffron, soaked in a little milk
    * 5 Cardamoms, powdered
    * 6 tbsp Ghee

Method

    * Grind the Moong dal coarsely. Heat the ghee and fry the dal till golden.
    * Add milk and cook till the milk has been absorbed. Add mawa and cook on a low fire, stirring continuously till the dal and the mawa are well blended. Remove from the heat and keep aside.
    * Make sugar syrup of one thread and add saffron and cardamom powder to it. Add the fried dal to the syrup and stir quickly till it mixes well. If you want you can add thin silvers of blanched almonds.