During the yatra, the demand, understandably, is very high and the food is distributed in earthen pots. "I cannot say exactly how much we require every year but it must be several lakhs," Dhadu Bisoi, a 65-year-old traditional potter, said.

"I have already made over a lakh and hope to make more," he said. "There are more than a hundred traditional potters who make earthen pots for the abhada."

Also see: Ganesha: Many Faces, Many Moods