Madhur temple gears up for historic Moodappa seve after 33 years!

Madhur : Devotees are eagerly awaiting the historic Moodappa Seve ritual, set to be performed on April 5 at the renowned Madhur Shri Madananteshwara Siddhivinayaka Temple. This highly revered event, which last took place 33 years ago, is part of the ongoing Brahmakalashotsava celebrations and is known for its grand spiritual and culinary scale.

Preparations are in full swing to offer a massive quantity of Appa (sweet rice cake) to the beloved deity, known for his fondness for food. Under the leadership of culinary expert P.K. Dhananjaya Bhat of Padukakkeppadi, over 20 traditional cooks (Banashigaru) are overseeing the preparation of 16 Moodis (measures) of Appa.

The sacred ritual begins at 9 AM on April 5 with a ceremonial fire offering (Agni Pratishta) following Kalashabhisheka and prayers. Senior priests will initiate the first portion of the Appa, marking the beginning of the Moodappa preparation, which is expected to result in thousands of sweet cakes to be ceremonially offered to Lord Ganapathi.

Evening celebrations and night rituals

In the evening, the deity will be taken in a grand procession to the Uliyattadka shrine. After a firecracker display at Bedikatte, the Moodappa Vaasa Homa (ritualistic fire offering) will be performed at 10 PM under the leadership of Brahmashri Uliyattaya Vishnu Aasra, culminating in the grand Moodappa Seve.

Rare distribution of pasada on April 6

On April 6, after sunrise, a special ceremony (Kavata Udgatana) will take place. Devotees will be granted divine darshan of Lord Madhur Siddhivinayaka in the form of Boddajja, the sacred manifestation. This will be followed by Abhisheka, special pujas, and the distribution of the sacred Appa Prasada to devotees.

The unique Moodappa offering

The Moodappa Seve is a signature tradition at Madhoor, offered to the self-manifested (Udbhava) idol of Ganapathi. Following the Bedi Utsava and Attala Puja, a symbolic offering of one Moodi of Appa is made to Lord Madananteshwara. Then, a bamboo enclosure is created in front of Lord Ganapathi, filled with 12 Moodis of Appa and 1 Moodi of Pachappa (rice dish).

The offerings are enriched with 128 types of sacred ingredients including ghee, jaggery, honey, sugar, and modakas. The massive mountain-shaped mound of Appa is then decorated up to the mouth of the idol, followed by elaborate Vedic rituals and prayers.

In the sanctum of Lord Shiva as well, 3 Moodis of Appa and 9 Pachappas are offered. The temple doors are closed for the night after special prayers (Shayana Mahotsava), and at dawn the next day, the doors are reopened with a special prayer by regional leaders and the sanctified offerings are distributed to the devotees.

Moodappa Seve through history

This sacred ritual has only been performed four times before:

1795: First Moodappa Seve under Mayippadi royal patronage

1797: Second Seve under the leadership of Koodlu Dodd Subbaya Shyanubhaga

1962: Third Moodappa Seve from April 6–10

1992: Fourth Moodappa Seve on April 4 during Ashtabandha Kalasha

2025: Fifth Moodappa Seve scheduled on April 5

Legacy of culinary masters

Ramkrishna Bhat, who was the temple’s chief cook in 1962 and 1992, was a legendary figure behind the Moodappa preparation. After his passing in 2008, his son P.K. Dhananjaya continues his legacy and is leading the massive food preparation for this year’s event.

With all spiritual, culinary, and ceremonial preparations underway, the devotees of Lord Ganapathi are filled with devotion and excitement to witness this once-in-a-generation divine offering.