These are the sweets most associated with the festival itself, each with its own regional origins and place in a typical Ganpati spread.
Ukadiche Modak
Ukadiche modak is the most iconic Ganesh Chaturthi sweet. It is a steamed dumpling made of rice flour, filled with coconut and jaggery. Traditionally, its pleated, fluted shape is offered to Ganesha in sets of 21 as prasad.
Fried Modak
Fried modak replaces steaming with deep-frying, giving a crisp, golden exterior to the same coconut-jaggery filling, but uses a wheat flour shell instead of rice flour.
Puran Poli
This sweet flatbread is filled with spiced chana dal and jaggery, rolled thin and fried on a tawa. The classic puran poli recipe is a festival favorite.
Motichoor Ladoo
Motichoor ladoo is a festive favorite and is often offered along with modak. It is made of tiny fried gram flour pearls soaked in sugar syrup.
Coconut Ladoo
Coconut ladoo is a simpler and quicker sweet than modak. It is made with grated coconut, condensed milk or khoya, and cardamom ,and makes soft balls in under 30 minutes.
Karanji
Karanji (also known as karjikai) is a fried crescent-shaped pastry filled with coconut, khoya, and dry fruits. The key skill is to get the karanji fold right: a tight crimp along the edge.
Shrikhand
Shrikhand is a sweet, cooling treat made from strained, sweetened yogurt flavored with cardamom and saffron. It is traditionally served with puri and was part of meals during Ganesh Chaturthi. Chocolate shrikhand is a popular modern variation in which cocoa is folded into the same base.
Kheer
For many Ganpati meals, rice kheer, slowly simmered in milk and sweetened with sugar, is a comforting finale, with vermicelli or sabudana as common regional variations.