Kids when we talk about Ganesh Chaturthi, which is the sweet that we offer to Lord Ganesha? It is Modak or Ladoos as they are his favourite sweets!
Today’s story is not about Modak or Ladoos, it is about Kheer.
Infact Kheer gets its name from the Sanskrit word "Ksheera" which means milk. "Sheer Kurma" is a sweet muslims make during the time of Eid. Kheer. In different parts of India, this delicacy is known by different names…It is known as Kheer in north, Dudh pak in Gujarat, Payas in West Bengal and Odisha and Payasam in South India. Do you know how kheer is prepared ? Kheer is made out of milk by mixing rice and sugar. Some people make it from vermicelli, broken wheat, tapioca , suji /rava or sabudana as well.
Let us know how does your mom prepare it at home?
The Story of Ganesh ji and Kheer
There was a little village, named Ganeshpur. Can you please help us locate this place? Do write to us in which state this place is located. Now, people of Ganeshpur loved Lord Ganesha. As Ganesh Chaturthi was near , all people were busy preparing for the fest.
Villagers were busy cleaning and decorating the village and women were busy cooking sweets. A little boy entered the village with little rice in one hand and a spoonful of milk in the other. His clothes were torn and face was dirty. Remember your face when you come back home after playing cricket or football….
He walked through the village shouting ‘Here I come with a spoonful of milk and a fistful of rice. Cook me kheer and Ganesha will bless you. But the people were too busy to pay him any attention.
The boy reached a hut of a poor,old woman. She lived alone and was sick but still decided to help the little boy. She said I can make kheer but I have nothing to cook. The little boy said," don’t worry amma borrow a big pot from your neighbour."
Listen to this story in English
The old lady thought the little boy was being silly but did what he wanted. She put the fistful of rice and a spoonful of milk into the pot, added some sugar and put it on fire.
The little boy said "amma, the kheer will take some time to cook. I will go and have a bath. when I will come back we can eat together." The boy ran away and the old women fell asleep.
इस कहानी को हिंदी में सुनें
She suddenly woke up by the delicious sweet smell. She got up and look inside the kitchen to find the pot filled with creamy white kheer. This made her mouth water and she was not able to resist the temptation to eat the kheer. Finally, she decided to eat, first she too a little bit and offered to Ganesha and then took large portion for herself. In one gulp she finished, then she took another then another yet the pot remained full. After some time the little boy came, and he asked for the kheer.
Quietly the old women put the bowl in front of him. The boy asked her "Where is your bowl, amma?" the old women was ashamed and confessed, " I could not resist the temptation and ate without waiting for you.
Children do you also get temped when your parents tell you to share your favourite food with your friends or brother or sister? What do you do at that time, share like a good boy/girl or eat their portion as well , do let us know?
Coming back to our story…
"The little boy said, "don’t worry amma I have eaten the kheer too. "
The old lady was astonished and she said ," But how is it possible because you have just came."
The boy said, "don’t you remember amma before eating you have offered some kheer to Ganesha. Well I am the same Ganesha said the boy and transformed into his true form."
The old women fell crying at Ganesha feet. Ganesha picked her and said you are very kind to me now make a wish. The old women was very intelligent. She asked Ganesha to give health, wealth, and prosperity. He happily granted her the wish. From that day onwards Ganesha is known as the God for heath, wealth and prosperity.
This is an interesting story, isn't it?
So, my young friends, tell me, did you like today's story ? If so, do let us know. We would love to hear your feedback. You can listen to many more such amazing stories on
Devgatha Podcast in Hindi and in English only on Spotify exclusively brought to you by gaathastory. This story was written by Minu Pandit and Amar Vyas for gaathastory, and narrated by Sheerali Biju. Audio Editing by Krishna Das .
Parts of this story are based on Public domain sources and have been edited for language, context and brevity. This story was published as a Spotify Exclusive by gaathastory.