With the beginning of Ganeshotsav, a unique competition was organized in Jamnagar, Gujarat on Saturday, in which the participants had to eat as many laddus as possible. This competition was held in three categories (women, men and children), in which different winners were declared. The winner of the men’s category in the competition won by eating 12 laddus.
The organizers said that this year a total of 49 participants took part in the competition, including 33 men, 6 women and 10 children. The most shocking thing is that in this competition they have to eat laddus of 100 grams each, which are made from pure ghee and milk.
Apart from Jamnagar, people from nearby areas like Jam Kandorna and Jam Jodhpur also participated in the competition. Last year, Naveen Dave won the competition in the men’s category by eating 13 laddus and this year Raoji Makwana won by eating 12 laddus. Padmini Ben Gajera was the winner in the women’s category, who ate a total of 9 laddus. Ayush Thakar was the winner in the children’s category, who won the competition by eating 5 laddus.
Saurashtra Laddu Competition has been organized every year for the last 15 years and every year people participate in it with great enthusiasm. It is organized every year on Ganeshotsav. Actually Lord Ganesha loves modaks or laddus and it is offered to him as bhog, therefore a laddu eating competition is held among his devotees. Continuing the tradition that has been going on for years, Brahma Social Group of Jamnagar organized the competition this year as well.
Apart from Jamnagar, such competitions are held in many other cities of the state. In another similar competition held in Rajkot last year, 73-year-old Govindbhai Lunagaria won the competition by eating 21 laddus in 21 minutes. The surprising thing is that a year before this, i.e. in the year 2022, Govindbhai Lunagaria had won this competition by eating 23 laddus. In the competition held in Rajkot, laddus weighing 100 grams are served with lentils and water. Only those who eat five laddus in the first five minutes are considered eligible for the competition. Govindbhai ate five laddus in three and a half minutes and ate 16 more laddus in the next 17 minutes.
Ganeshotsav is a ten-day festival, which begins with Ganesh Chaturthi. This festival, which began today i.e. Saturday, will continue till Anant Chaturdashi. This festival, also known as Vinayak Chaturthi or Vinayak Chavithi, worships Lord Ganesha as the ‘first worshiped god’ and ‘remover of obstacles’. He is also considered to be the giver of Riddhi-Siddhi.