For devotees, Ganeshotsav is about modaks, mahaprasad, and festive treats. For Maharashtra’s food safety watchdog, it is also the season to ensure that the sweetness reaching devotees’ plates is safe.

Ahead of and during Ganeshotsav, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has combined awareness with inspections, focusing on the food chain behind the festival — from modak makers and Ganesh mandals to sweet shops, dairies and restaurants.