Ganesha-Eco Friendly-Biodegradable-Wholewheat Ganesha

posted in: And More..., How to | 46

Hi Friends, My first post ever! So excited.I have been wanting to start my blog for sometime now and what better day than Ganesh Chaturthi, the birthday of Lord Ganesha. I hope the Lord blesses each one of you with prosperity and luck.

For my non Indian friends, Ganesha is the god who we pray to, before we start anything significant, be it marriage, business or a journey.Legend has it if you pray to Ganesha, he removes all obstacles and everything goes smoothly.

Though I pray to Ganesha everyday I had never observed Ganesh Chaturthi, till last year. I am thankful to my friends from Mumbai,Sunil and Lavina, who introduced me to the observation of the 10 day festivities. Sunil’s devotion to the Lord is so impressive, he makes it a point to visit Mumbai every year for two weeks to observe Ganesh Chaturthi.  Ganpati loves laddoos and what better way to appease him than by making his favorite laddoos. Here is a Collection of easy and quick laddoo recipes which includes- Badaam ke laddoo made from Almond flour, Besan ke laddoo ,Two ingredient Coconut laddoo and Chocolate,dates and nuts Laddoo. If you want some more easy Indian dessert recipes, do check out this Collection of 20 easy Indian Desserts ready in under 10 minutes.  Another way to make Ganesha is by making a Tree Ganesha with Clay. I put cilantro/coriander seeds in the clay and did the immersion in a pot in my yard.

The advantages of making a home made idol is first and foremost the satisfaction of not just bringing Ganpati home but of actually creating it with your own hands. It’s a great way to involve children and teach them about lord Ganesha.Plus you know that you helped the environment by making it of biodegradable material.Last year I made a Ganesha with Wholewheat/ Atta for the first time. I added a good bit of salt(For Preservation) to it and after giving it form I actually baked it at a very low temperature for an hour. I followed a youtube video to give form and attributes to Ganesha. Hope you try it too and may you and your loved ones be blessed.

Here is the written recipe followed by the step by step pictorial recipe-

Ganesha-Eco Friendly-Biodegradable-Wholewheat Ganesha

Aanchal Gupta

A Bio degradable and eco friendly Ganpati made with wholewheat flour/Atta. Don’t just bring Ganpati home this year,make a biodegradable,eco friendly Ganpati made of whole wheat/atta.Do visarjan in a way that doesnt ollute the rivers. Involve your children and teach them not only about the legend of Ganpati but also how we can be environmentally conscious.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

  

  • 2 cups Wholewheat Flour/Atta
  • 1 cup salt
  • enough water to make a tight dough about 1 cup

Instructions

 

  • Preheat oven to 175F or the lowest setting in the oven.
  • Make a tight dough with all the ingredients and let it rest for an hour.
  • Make Ganpati by following the pictorial representation below.
  • Bake for an hour in the oven.
  • Use Haldi,Kumkum to color Ganpati or leave as is like I did.

Notes

After making the idol, let it cool completely and then spray some cooking spray or rub some oil very gently to keep the murti/idol from drying up. You may use turmeric/haldi and kumkum for decorating. Salt is meant to be a preservative and baking helps in solidifying the murti/idol. I do visarjan in the lake in my neighborhood. The flour/atta becomes food for the fish in the lake. I have never kept the murti/idol for more than 3 days, it may last longer.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

Here is a step by step pictorial presentation

Make dough and let it rest for an hour

how to make ganpati (2)

Make 1 large, 2 medium,2 small and 5 very small balls

how to make ganpati (3)

Flatten a medium ball for the base

how to make ganpati (4)

Put the large Ball as the body. Wet the dough a little, it acts as glue to hold it in place

how to make ganpati (5)

Roll 2 small and 2 very small balls for the hands and legs

how to make ganapti

Give the hands and legs shape

how to make ganpati (6)

Add the legs, make sure to wet the dough to make it easier to attach

how to make ganpati (8)

Add the arms how to make ganpati (9)

Attach the head with a little water. Make sure the back is smooth.

how to make ganpati (10)

The 3 small balls are used for ears and trunk. Attach all with little water.

how to make ganpati (11)

Add eyes, tusks and sacred thread

how to make ganpati (12)

Add crown and bindi. Bake for an hour in the oven at the lowest setting.

how to make ganpati (13)

Celebrate with his favorite sweets Besan ke laddoo and Chocolate,dates and nuts laddoo.

Enjoy the blessings!

Om Gan Ganpatayah Namah!

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46 Responses

  1. Sangita Gupta

    Very sweet start to your new blog. Good luck and look forward to many more postings.

      • Anupama

        Amazing Aanchal!Saw your vlog and the beautiful instructions you have given for making the divine Ganesh.Thank you soo much ! Really enlightening!!

          • Ritu Sharma

            Excellent idea ! Made my children make the eco friendly ganesha. Was such a hit. Thank you for the idea Ms Gupta:)

          • Aanchal Gupta

            Hi Ritu, thank you for sharing your feedback. So happy to hear that your children enjoyed making the eco friendly Ganesha and was a hit with them.

  2. Sudha

    So happy for u girl..! Always admired u and ur passion for cooking..n ofcourse ur amazing sense of style and fashion.. Looking forward to ur posts n wishing u all the best..!?

    • Aanchal Gupta

      Thanks Sudha! Appreciate the lovely comments! As far as style and fashion goes, you can say its a mutual admiration society, coz I love your style too!!!

  3. Lavina

    I made best of your blog .. I made ganpati at home for the first time… Love it!
    Tried ladoos.. Perfect recipe!
    Awesome!! Awesome!!! Keep it up !!

    • Aanchal Gupta

      OMG Lavina, Thanks for trying out both Ganpati and Laddoos! Thats awesome! Please share picture of Ganpati and Laddoos that you made.

  4. Samira

    Awesome way to make Ganpati. I too bring biodegradable Ganesha for the puja but this time I’d like to make your way. Let’s see what Ganesha wants me to do. Thanks a lot for sharing.
    But tell me one thing, if I don’t paint, how will it look like after 2 days. Same or ?

    • Aanchal Gupta

      Thanks Samira, hope Ganesha has plans for you to make it my way! I did not paint my Ganpati,I prefer the natural look with just sindoor tilak. I kept it for 3 days at home and it does dry up a bit, it is after all wholewheat. I did how ever rub it lightly with oiled hands,that does help to maintain its look. Please share a picture of your creation. Would love to see it.

  5. Lathiya

    When I was a kid ,used to make this when my mom makes roti..Now my daughter does it..looks amazing..great step wise instruction

  6. Aanchal Gupta

    Thanks Lathiya,Great activity with kids that teaches them not only about our culture but also consciousness about the environment.

  7. Afroz

    This is such beautiful way of celebrating a festival. Following eco-friendly way is need of an hour.
    I have to tell tou are very crafty and the idol looks so beautiful.

    • Aanchal Gupta

      Thanks Afroz. We all have to become eco conscious and do our small bit.Thanks for the appreciation.

  8. Jagruti

    You are such talented lady, I love the idea of making Ganesha murti with Aata, I might try, I bet it won’t be as good as yours though.

    • Aanchal Gupta

      Thanks Jagruti,Hope you will try making Ganesha murti with aata,I am sure it will be very good.

  9. Soniya

    Take a bow Girl!! You have done it so well, very well explained too.❤️

  10. Sonia

    Is it possible to keep Ganesha made with aata for 11 days. I really liked ur idea. But i can i keep it for 11 days. Plz reply???

    • Aanchal Gupta

      Hi Sonia,The atta has salt for preservation, so it should not get spoilt. It does start looking dry after 2-3 days. I would suggest applying oil all over Ganesha to keep it from looking dry. It should work. I always keep for 3 days. I also have method to make a tree Ganesha in my blog as well. I have used clay for that. Please do let me know if you keep Ganesha for 11 days. Thank you.

  11. Sravani

    Instead of immersing in water, can we consume it like a prasadam on the night of the festival ?

    • Aanchal Gupta

      The whole wheat after baking and keeping for a few days is dry. Plus has a lot of salt. I would not recommend consuming it.

    • Aanchal Gupta

      Welcome thakshak, adding turmeric is a great option. Did you add salt?

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