After Varalakshmi Vratham, comes Ganesh Chaturti . It is celebrated on Chathurthi (the fourth day) after new moon in the Tamil month, Aavani and Bhadrapada maasa in other calenders.
Again, I would like to share how I celebrate this festival according to the method followed in our family. There may be different methods followed in different families in various places in India.
We have our rose wood mantap that is used for Varalakshmi Vratham or Puja that is cleaned well and placed facing east. Hridaya kamalam or Aishwarya (patra rangoli ) kolam is drawn on the base of the mantap. Videos for these rangoli and other puja rangoli are in Rangoli for Puja
![mantap.jpg]( "Pooja mantap arrangement for Ganesh Puja")
![thoranam.jpg]()
Then a banana leaf (nuni ilai in Tamil ) is placed on the mantap and rice in placed on the leaf and the thoranam arrangement is similar to the one used for Varalakshmi Pooja.
In Tamil Nadu, the tradition is purchase a clay idol of Ganapthy and an umbrella, the idol is placed in the mantap and is decorated with plantain leaves and maavilai thoranam.
Rangoli is drawn in front of the mantap. It can be chosen from Simple rangoli with 5 dots for a dot design. For free hand many designs are available here.
Turmeric is applied to the garland at the narrow areas. A 21 ball cotton garland is used. The video below is from my YouTube channel
Again we can recite slokas or songs according to our customs.
(Where one does not get banana leaf, mango leaves etc. replicas may be used)
Offerings to the main idol include fruits - bananas, wood apple, sugarcane, corn, coconut, betel leaves and nuts, kheer or payasam amavadai and of course kozhukattai and modhakam.
Rice flour and water in equal proportions are taken. Water is boiled adding a pinch of salt and 1/2 teaspoon oil. Rice flour is added to boiled water, the stove brought to "sim". Stir continuously to avoid formation of lumps. The colour changes to light brownish when it is completely cooked. Allow it to cool.
![recipe.jpg]( "coconut puran for kozhukattai recipe")
![kozhukattai.jpg]( "kozhukattai and modhakam")
![cotton-garland-craft.jpg]()
Again, I would like to share how I celebrate this festival according to the method followed in our family. There may be different methods followed in different families in various places in India.
We have our rose wood mantap that is used for Varalakshmi Vratham or Puja that is cleaned well and placed facing east. Hridaya kamalam or Aishwarya (patra rangoli ) kolam is drawn on the base of the mantap. Videos for these rangoli and other puja rangoli are in Rangoli for Puja
Then a banana leaf (nuni ilai in Tamil ) is placed on the mantap and rice in placed on the leaf and the thoranam arrangement is similar to the one used for Varalakshmi Pooja.
In Tamil Nadu, the tradition is purchase a clay idol of Ganapthy and an umbrella, the idol is placed in the mantap and is decorated with plantain leaves and maavilai thoranam.
Rangoli is drawn in front of the mantap. It can be chosen from Simple rangoli with 5 dots for a dot design. For free hand many designs are available here.
First we make a Ganesh (Pillaiyar) with turmeric mixed with water. Pooja is performed to this Ganapathy first by rendering simple slokas or mantras or songs in the language of our choice. Sandalwood paste, turmeric and kumkum are applied and a nevedhiyam (or offering ) is done.
The main idol is decorated with flower garlands, sacred thread. A coconut is placed near Lord Ganesh and on it turmeric and kumkum. Sandal wood paste, turmeric and kumkum are applied to the forehead of Ganesha and is adorned with erukkampoo malai (Calotropis ) and a cotton garland. Archana is performed using flowers and arugampul (Bermuda grass - I understand)
Turmeric is applied to the garland at the narrow areas. A 21 ball cotton garland is used. The video below is from my YouTube channel
Again we can recite slokas or songs according to our customs.
(Where one does not get banana leaf, mango leaves etc. replicas may be used)
Offerings to the main idol include fruits - bananas, wood apple, sugarcane, corn, coconut, betel leaves and nuts, kheer or payasam amavadai and of course kozhukattai and modhakam.
Rice flour and water in equal proportions are taken. Water is boiled adding a pinch of salt and 1/2 teaspoon oil. Rice flour is added to boiled water, the stove brought to "sim". Stir continuously to avoid formation of lumps. The colour changes to light brownish when it is completely cooked. Allow it to cool.
Coconut puran or pooran is prepared with coconut and jaggery - 1 measures coconut for 3/4 measure jaggery (approximate), a pinch of cardamom powder. Coconut and jaggery (powdered ) are heated in a kadai (vessel) , after adding a teaspoon of ghee, Stir well till it does not stick to the vessel.
Place the coconut puran inside the dough and make the required shapes - kozhukattai or modhakam. - and cook with steam.
We can also include some special decorations to celebrate the festival. I make this cotton craft garland
for this Puja and Navratri celebrations. A long piece of cotton is pulled to make a ball at regular intervals. Using a pair of scissors cut to get three pieces with a pair each. Place them one above the other and stick all the three pairs with a decorative element (green in the garland below). Now stick this on the garland base. Repeat the steps to get the garland in the image.
