Why Lord Ganesha loves to eat Modak .

 

A Modak is a sweet dumpling popular in Western, eastern and Southern India. It is called modak (मोदक) in Marathi. The sweet filling inside a modak is made up of fresh grated coconut and jaggery, while the soft shell is made from rice flour, or wheat flour mixed with khava or maida flour. The dumpling can be fried or steamed. The steamed version, called ukdiche modak, is eaten hot with ghee. Modaks have a special importance in the worship of the Hindu god Ganesh;modak is believed to be his favorite food, which begets him the moniker modakapriya (the one who likes modak) in Sanskrit. During the Ganesh worship ceremony, known in India as Ganesha Chaturthi the puja always concludes with an offering of twenty-one modaks to the deity and as prasad.
 

MODAK - LORD GANESHA'S FAVOURITE :
 
There is an interesting story in the Padma Purana regarding why Ganesha loves Modak. Once the Devas (demi gods) came to visit Shiva and Goddess Parvati and presented them a divine Modak. It was a very special Modak and the person who ate the modak will become knowledgeable in all scriptures, science, art and writing. Goddess Parvati wanted to present it to her sons – Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartik. But the brothers were not ready to share it.So a confused Goddess Parvati said that who among you proves the true meaning of sincerity and devotion will get the Modak.To prove the true meaning of devotion, Lord Kartik immediately mounted on his Vahana, or vehicle, and started visiting all the spiritual places.But Lord Ganesha went around Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and said that no amount of offerings or fasting or visiting sacred places is equal to the devotion of one’s father and mother.Impressed by Lord Ganesha’s explanation of true meaning of sincerity
and devotion, Goddess Parvati gave the Modak to Lord Ganesha. This is believed to be the reason for Lord Ganesha’s love for Modak.