Chuda Ghasa

ABOUT Chuda Ghasa RECIPE

Chuda Ghasa is the food of Gods, and when I say that I really mean that. :) The usual ingredients are flattened rice (poha, chuda), jaggery, black pepper, edible camphor, shredded coconut and fruits. It is usually prepared during festivals as an offering to the deities. Chuda ghasa is a favorite during Ganesh Chaturthi - the annual Ganesha festival. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated all over India with great pomp and glory but the biggest celebrations happen in Maharashtra. The festivities start almost a month early with the artisans preparing the idols made out of clay. Vibrant colours and unique styles of the idols are such a site to watch. The Ganesh chaturthi festival has a very definite beginning and end, the festival beings with various communities settings up pandals for festivities. Pandals are temporary structures for religious ceremonies. Pandals can be very elaborate or simple and host the idol of Ganesha. On the day of Ganesh chaturthi, religious ceremonies are performed and food is offered to God first and then distributed amongst everyone. It is an exciting day for children and adults too since everyone gets to wear new clothes and have the day off roaming around pandals and eating yummy food. It is also special since this day kids are free from homework and books, an entire day of being with friends and enjoying. The festival ends with the Visarjan. This is the day that with double the festivities, dancing and singing Ganesha is bid adieu before we see him again next year. The clay idols of Ganesha are transported in trucks or cars to the sea and the idol is then given back into the water. In the years though the amount of artificial coloring and chemicals being used in these idols has dramatically increased and all this going into the sea is also the cause of a lot of worry. Although this has also encouraged a few to make their own idols with environmental friendly material that does not contaminate the sea water. So that's how Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated all over India. Ganesh Chaturthi is also celebrated at home and lots of delicacies are made as offerings to Ganesha. Another offering that is Ganesha's favourite is Modak which will be my next recipe, I do an instant version of the delicacy so until next time enjoy the chuda ghasa recipe.