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.A similar design drawn with 7 to 1 dot pattern from my YouTube Channel - in the video link below.It is the latest dot rangoli added for this festival season and gives all the information from dot pattern to the steps needed for drawing this dot rangoli design.
![festival-Ganesh-Chathurti-4.jpg]( "Simple garland with bermuda grass oleander for Ganapathi Puja")
![festival-Ganesh-Chathurti-3.jpg]( "Pooja mantap arrangement for Ganesh Puja")
Arugampul (Bermuda grass) and arali (oleander) are two of the most important offerings for Ganesh Chathurti celebrations. This simple garland is my offering for Ganesh Puja. A tuft of arugampul and two oleander flowers are placed together as shown, oleander above arugampul and strung into a garland following the usual method of stringing flowers. For different methods of stringing them please see Flower decoration.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. 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.
![festival-festoon.jpg]( "artificial toran or thoranam")
![Festival-Ganesh-Chaturthi-2.jpg]( "Fruits offering for Ganesh Chathurti")
Turmeric is applied to the garland at the narrow areas. A 21 ball cotton garland is used.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-kozhukattai-2.jpg]( "kozhukattai and modhakam")
![recipe-kozhukkatai-1.jpg]( "coconut puran for kozhukattai recipe")
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.
![Festival-Ganesh-chathurthi-1.jpg]( "cotton-garland-craft")
We can also include some special decorations to celebrate the festival. I make this cotton craft garland![Ganesh-chathurti-rangoli.jpg]( "Rangoli with four elephants holding lotus for Vinayaka Chathurti")
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 on the right ). Now stick this on the garland base. Repeat the steps to get the garland in the image. The steps showing how to do it through a video is available in my YouTube channel The rangoli on the right a free hand design for Vinayaka Chathurti or Pillayar Chathurti as we say in Tamil Nadu. A flower design at the centre with four elephants on four sides holding lotus flowers - the flowers coloured pink and the elephants, grey. This can also be tried with dots but it will be a free hand dot combination. The video for the rangoli is YouTube channel Rangolisansdots. Another simple idea for an elephant kolam design that can be drawn for Puja room. Draw some spirals around the star pattern. Extend further and draw the eyes to get this easy elephant kolam design.
![small-elephant-kolam-2.jpg]( "drawing the elephant patterns")
![small-elephant-kolam-1.jpg]( "how to draw a simple elephant pattern")
Arugampul (Bermuda grass) and arali (oleander) are two of the most important offerings for Ganesh Chathurti celebrations. This simple garland is my offering for Ganesh Puja. A tuft of arugampul and two oleander flowers are placed together as shown, oleander above arugampul and strung into a garland following the usual method of stringing flowers. For different methods of stringing them please see Flower decoration.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.
Toran or Thoranam is an important part of celebration of any festival. The image above shows a festoon or toran made from artificial mango leaves - may be useful where mango leaves are not available. The leaves are made from OHP sheet, the veins are drawn with out-liners, the remaining portion filled with green colour to give the mango leaf effect. The leaves are mounted on a colourful and fancy tape. A chamki is placed between two leaves to enhance the beauty.
Though ready made thoranam made from coconut fronds are available the video in my channel Rangolisansdots for those who want try at least once - how to make a thoranam
![stencil-rangoli.jpg]( "Rangoli with stencil using different colours")
The image on the right I drew in front of Ganpati for Puja. I used a rangoli stencil after a long time. The central flower design was filled with one colour and the outer motif with blue. Finally I added some colourful lines on the outside.
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.Though ready made thoranam made from coconut fronds are available the video in my channel Rangolisansdots for those who want try at least once - how to make a thoranam
The image on the right I drew in front of Ganpati for Puja. I used a rangoli stencil after a long time. The central flower design was filled with one colour and the outer motif with blue. Finally I added some colourful lines on the outside.
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 )
Turmeric is applied to the garland at the narrow areas. A 21 ball cotton garland is used.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.How to make kozhukattai
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 on the right ). Now stick this on the garland base. Repeat the steps to get the garland in the image. The steps showing how to do it through a video is available in my YouTube channel The rangoli on the right a free hand design for Vinayaka Chathurti or Pillayar Chathurti as we say in Tamil Nadu. A flower design at the centre with four elephants on four sides holding lotus flowers - the flowers coloured pink and the elephants, grey. This can also be tried with dots but it will be a free hand dot combination. The video for the rangoli is YouTube channel Rangolisansdots. Another simple idea for an elephant kolam design that can be drawn for Puja room. Draw some spirals around the star pattern. Extend further and draw the eyes to get this easy elephant kolam design. 
The day before Ganesh Chathurthi is celebrated as Hartalika Vratha or Hartalika Teej or Gowri Puja in some parts of India. It is said that Goddess Parvathi performed this Vratha. An image of Gowri is worshipped. It is done in different methods in different parts of India. Offerings include fruits particularly wood apple, kheer. Some fast after the puja.