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5 min
21/08/2025
Puffed rice usually chills in bhel like a background extra, but during Ganesh Chaturthi, it’s a total star. Why? Because it’s Bappa’s ride-or-die snack. As Ganesh Chaturthi murmura deserves a full desi makeover: think jaggery, ghee, coconut, the works. From street-style to temple glamour, it pulls a full Karishma Kapoor transformation in Raja Hindustani. It’s crunchy, sweet, and low-key legendary. So this festive season, don’t underestimate the underdog. Murmura’s not just showing up, it’s showing off.
Most days, puffed rice sits quietly in kitchen corners like that friend who never gets invited to the cool parties. It shows up in bhel puri, does its job, and fades back into pantry obscurity. But when Ganesh Chaturthi arrives, this humble snack suddenly becomes the star everyone wants to work with. Turns out Lord Ganesha has excellent taste in snacks, and his endorsement has turned muramura from a background player into a festival headliner that somehow still manages to remain humble.
This is a classic Ganesh Chaturthi sweet, also popular during Makar Sankranti, which is made by grandmothers and is light and crisp, sweetened with jaggery. This is the ultimate comfort treat as the crunchy puffed rice transforms into a sweet ladoo, which sometimes adds a little bit of cardamom powder and coconut. Much like modaks, these ladoos represent devotion and humility, and represent Lord Ganesha’s fondness for unpretentious food. The ease of preparation and the use of minimal ingredients make this a must-try this festive season.
Bhel or bhelpuri is popular across India, and whilst it's not puja food, this spicy snack is worth a try. Bhelpuri uses puffed rice with a mix of vegetables, tamarind chutney, and various spices. The puffed rice adds the crunch, if eaten fresh, while the chutneys used add a pop of flavour. This popular street food gets a revival during festive seasons, especially during festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi. Its refreshing taste and ease of preparation make it a favourite among devotees and visitors alike.
Murmura gets a makeover in this recipe with the usual tikkas, which use rice flour, besan, onion, garlic and spices. The murmura is not crisp, but it does add an interesting texture to the dish, and tastes as good as the usual tikki. Try them on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi instead of eating out or ordering in the usual fare. Just like their potato counterpart, these too taste fantastic with chutneys and sauces, so if you’re entertaining at home, serve these and watch your guests take notes.
Much like the murmura ladoos, pori urundai are the South Indian versions, which are made the same way. But, these are made for the Karthigai deepam festival, in Tamil Nadu, in addition ot nel pori and aval pori (made with unhusked paddy and beaten rice respectively). Ganesha loved his murmura; it’s no wonder this snack is a favourite among kids during the festivals. It's simple, wholesome ingredients barely take much time to make, but will take some effort and given monsoons, it might just be a breeze to make.
Another puffed rice speciality from South India, kara pori is seasoned with mustard seeds, curry leaves, red chilli powder, and a pinch of hing. The spices coat the puffed rice, delivering a great aroma and a spicy kick. While not tied to Ganesh Chaturthi festivities, it’s a nice occasion to enjoy, being the South Indian equivalent of the bhel puri. Raw mango, sambar powder, peanuts and curry leaves, to name a few, get added to kara pori. It’s a good snack to serve at home that uses pantry staples and a good deal of spices and local ingredients.
A deconstructed sweet that’s low-key a spin-off of mumura ladoos, korakhai is an Odia sweet made from ‘khai’, a kind of puffed rice. This is mixed with molten jaggery and grated fresh coconut, flavoured with cardamom. It’s a chewy, mildly sweet treat with a subtle nutty flavour that is high on the sweet side. You can prepare it with the regular puffed rice, too, although the taste will be a bit different. It’s traditionally offered at temples in Odisha, primarily the Lingaraj temple, as prasad. Lord Ganesha would love this one too because it’s simple, sweet and packs in the flavour without much fuss.
Uggani is a puffed rice dish from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, where puffed rice sometimes replaces regular rice for a lighter feel. Take it as your puffed rice upma, which is mixed with spices, mustard seeds, curry leaves, peanuts, and fresh herbs. It’s a wholesome dish with a light crunch to it. Though not exactly associated with Ganesh Chaturthi, you can try this as a breakfast item or a snack on this sacred occasion. You get the homely taste of puffed rice and the comforting flavours of upma all at one go.
Puffed rice is the star that takes on the dominant ingredient in any recipe without losing its character. It’s almost like the petri dish where the action happens, and what started as Lord Ganesha's favourite snack has quietly become one of India's most underrated gems. The best part about puffed rice is that it’s dirt cheap, making it accessible and forgiving enough for kitchen experiments. You can easily whip up a snack or something worthy enough to serve to devotees as prasad, like the Odias do; it’s your choice.
