Velagapandu (wood apple) !

Velagapandu is a favorite fruit to Lord Ganesha.

Velagapandu is also known as "Wood apple"..These are rounded,woody,rough shell containg a sour and sweet pulp.

Velagapandu has Great Medicinal Values.

Pooja Items -1: Pooja Patri

Sri Ganesha is easily pleased.
Just by offering Him a little durva grass , he is pleased to grant one’s heartfelt desires.

Ganesh Patri , is the numerous types of sacred leaves that are offered during Ganesha Chaturthi Pooja.The Leaves of 108 different types of plants are offered.

- In Ganesh pooja, 21 different types of leaves are offered :

1. Machi (macikkai)
2. Brihati (chitti mulaga)
3. Bilva (Maredu)
4. Durva Grass
5. Datura
6. Badari
7. Apa Marga
8. Tulsi
9. Choota (Mango leaves)
10. Karaveera
11. Vishnu Kranta
12. Daadimi (Pomegranate)
13. Devadaru
14. Maruvaka
15. Sidhuvara
16. Jaaji
17. Shami
18. Aswatham
19. Arjuna
20. Arka
21. Nimba (Neem)

The most commonly used leaves are that of Durva, Aghada, Tulsi, Bilva, Prajakta, Mogra and Madhumalati .

*Most of the Patris that are used in Ganesh pooja have medicinal properties.

- List of flowers and leaves that are offered while praying to Lord Ganesha:

Red Flowers : Any usual red color flower used in Hindu rituals.

Durva Grass : is an important offering to Ganesh. Especially in South India, you will find vendors selling garlands of Durva outside Ganesh Temples.

Milkweed flower:Another important flower offered is the Milkweed flower(Jilledi).

Pomegranate leaves: and flowers are also offered in many places.

Sanku Pushpam:Another important flower and leaf offered.

Screw Pine :Leaves and flowers are also offered.

Tulsi leaves and flowers are not generally used in Ganesh Pooja. But it is used during Vinayaka Chaturthi or Ganesh Pooja.

pooja samagri (items) !

Ganesh puja is done using the items that are required especially for the festival. It is believed that each puja item has a significance. This is primarily because of the fact that in order to worship the deity in a traditional way, all the puja items are required. Therefore, nothing should be missed out from the list of puja items for ganesh chaturthi.

Buy all the pooja samagri (items), a cute clay idol of Lord Ganesha and a book narrating the story of the Lord ganesha and pooja vidhaanam , the significance of conducting this auspicious pooja.

We would wake up early in the morning ,First clean the house and take a bath and get prepared to decorate the Paalavalli (roof made with bamboo sticks to place over the idol) with fruits and flowers and place the clay idol of Lord Ganesha below it on a decorated stool(platform)

Ganesha under decorated "PALAVELLI"

And place our studying books before the idol, along with fruits and naivedyam as its believed that the Lord would help us do well in our studies and overcome all obstacles in life and bless us.Some of the very important puja items for ganesh chaturthi include a puja thali, bell, diyas (lamps)..next all rituals are performed.

puja items list:

- Lord Ganesha idol
- Turmeric powder

- Kum kum
- Camphor
- Agarbathi sticks
- Sandle Powder
- Rose water
- Akshitalu
- Betel leaves
- Betel Nuts
- Coconuts
- Deepam(lamp)
- Coins
- Cotton wicks (long vatis)
- Cotton vastra
- Naivedyams(prasadam)
- Ganesh patri (sacred leaves)
- Velagapandu or velagakaaya(Wood apple)
- Fruits
- Flowers
- A Story book of Lord Ganesha(pooja vidhanam)