PANAJI
Ganesh Chaturthi, the festival dedicated to Lord Ganesha, is traditionally celebrated with rituals and homemade sweets. However, recent times have seen a shift in how people purchase these festive essentials. Now, many opt to order sweets through third-party delivery apps, replacing the need to visit physical shops.
Popular sites like Swiggy Instamart and Ferns n Petals offer packaged sweets, Chaturthi décor, pooja essentials, and gift hampers at attractive discounts ranging from 10% to 25%. This shift has led to a surge in online sales, with many items selling out within hours.
Manjunath Dasharath, a shopkeeper from Panjim who sells sweets and other festival essentials, acknowledges that while there's been a slight decline in sales due to rise of online shopping, it's not significant. "Yes, there's a small impact—maybe 10-15 out of 100 customers might choose to buy from online apps. But the majority still prefers shopping in person. The online market has made a dent, but not to a great extent," he said. Reflecting on Ganesh Chaturthi, he added, "the true essence of the festival lies in shopping at local markets and making certain items at home."
Pranil Karanjalkar, manager at Rasoda in Panaji, which has tied up with online delivery apps, notes that while many customers prefer to visit the store before Chaturthi to personally check the quality of sweets, the demand for online orders spikes on the day of the festival. “People come in large numbers before the festival to physically test the quality of sweets. However, on the festive day, online orders for last-minute purchases tend to increase,” Karanjalkar said.
Shreya Sinari from St Cruz, who makes modaks at home and sells them online, offers customers the best of both worlds with the option for in-person collection, has noticed a shift in festive shopping habits.
“I receive many orders for ukdiche modak—Bappa's favourite treat. In the past, joint families would prepare sweets together, but with today’s nuclear families and work demands, people lack the time. To ease the burden on older ladies at home, many families now hire cooks or purchase sweets from stores that offer homemade items like mine, making celebrations more convenient and stress-free,” Sinari says.
For many, convenience is a major factor driving the shift towards online shopping, especially given today’s busy lifestyles. The crowded markets across Goa, often filled with last-minute shoppers, can be overwhelming.
Navita Dessai from Porvorim, who works full-time, shared her experience: "We are a working-class family, and preparing all these sweets at home is challenging, even though we celebrate this festival with religious fervour. I ensure to make modaks at home, but purchase the rest."
For Dessai, online shopping provides the ease and comfort of avoiding market chaos while still getting everything she needs delivered right to her doorstep. “In this digital era, everything is available at just a click. While I miss traditional aspects of the festival, I appreciate the ease that apps and delivery services provide,” said Dessai.
For the Shirodkars from Calangute, Ganesh Chaturthi is steeped in tradition, with family members gathering at their ancestral home nearly 15 to 20 days before the festival to prepare for the celebration.
When it comes to buying festive essentials online or through apps, the Shirodkars believe that the true flavour and joy of consuming these sweets, especially during festivals, comes from preparing them at home. "These treats are not only made for our family but also for those who visit us during the festival," Shirodkar added.
As modern lifestyles become increasingly busy, traditional practices are often adapted to fit contemporary needs.
“In today’s fast-paced world, many working professionals in modern families struggle to find the time to prepare traditional sweets for festivals. This leads them to opt for the convenience of buying from stores or online. Additionally, many in the younger generation are unfamiliar with the traditional recipes for Ganesh Chaturthi sweets, which further drives this shift away from homemade preparations,” said Krishna Shetgaonkar.
