If there’s one dessert that can instantly bring back memories of festive times or the comforting scent of your mom’s kitchen, it’s got to be sabudana kheer. This velvety pudding, made with tapioca pearls cooked in milk, sweetened with sugar, and spiced with cardamom, is the epitome of comfort food. While it’s a favourite during Indian fasts (vrat), you really don’t need a special event to enjoy it. With its creamy texture, delightful aroma, and those chewy, translucent pearls, this kheer feels like a warm hug in a bowl.

A contemporary twist on the traditional Indian dessert, red velvet modak was created especially for Ganesh Chaturthi. This colourful treat combines a soft outer shell, a pleasantly sweet coconut inside, and the well-known red velvet flavour. It’s easy to make, visually striking, and perfect for festive celebrations.

Steamed to gentle perfection, sweet kozhukattai is a rice flour dumpling filled with coconut and jaggery, traditionally made during Ganesh Chaturthi. It’s a festive staple across Tamil and Kerala households and carries regional tweaks, but this basic version delivers both simplicity and soul.