Ashtadravya:
Ashtadravya, or Ashtadravyam, are eight sacred puja items
that are offered to Lord Ganesha during the special puja known
as Ashta Dravya Mahaganapathy Homam. It is offered to Lord
Ganesh to get his blessings who blesses with wealth, prosperity
and long life. The eight sacred things that are part of the
Ashtadravya are:
Coconuts,
Molasses,
Sesame Oil,
Sugarcane,
Lemon,
Rice flakes
Banana
Rice.
In some places Ashta Dravya are Dried coconut, puffed rice,
jaggery, banana (kadali plantain), honey, sesame, sugarcane and
fried paddy of rice.
For some communities Ashtadravya are Coconut, Banana,
Honey, Sugarcane, Ghee, Modhaka, Jaggery, Puffed rice.
Mahaganapathy Homa is performed with Ashta Dravya (a mixture
of eight materials) 1.Coconut, 2.Banana, 3.Honey, 4.Sugarcane,
5.Ghee, 6.Modhaka, 7.Jaggery, 8.Puffed rice.
The concept of Ashta Dravya is of South Indian origin and is more
popular with Hindu communities in South India.