During the Ganesh festival, there's a tradition of offering 21 specific types of leaves, known as "Patri," to Lord Ganesha during the puja (worship). This time of year in India is marked by lush greenery, with many of these plants being common in households, while others are rarer. In earlier times, women in the family would gather these leaves from gardens, nearby fields, hedges, and riversides.

Below is a list of the 21 leaves offered to Lord Ganesha, along with their scientific and local names:

Shami Patra

• Botanical Name: Prosopis cineraria
• Common Names:
  • English: Shami, Khejri Tree
  • Hindi: खेजड़ी, शमी
  • Sanskrit: केशदमनी, शङ्कुफला, पापशमनी
  • Telugu: Jammi
  • Marathi: शमी

Bhringraj Patra

• Botanical Name: Eclipta prostrata
• Common Names:
  • English: False Daisy, Bhringraj
  • Hindi: भंगौरिया, भृंगराज, भंगरैया
  • Sanskrit: भृङ्गराज
  • Telugu: Guntakalagara
  • Marathi: माका

Bael Patra

• Botanical Name: Aegle marmelos
• Common Names:
  • English: Bengal Quince, Stone Apple
  • Hindi: बेल
  • Sanskrit: बिल्व
  • Telugu: Vilvam
  • Marathi: बेल

Durva Patra

• Botanical Name: Cynodon dactylon
• Common Names:
  • English: Bahama Grass, Couch Grass
  • Hindi: दूर्वा, दूब
  • Sanskrit: दूर्वा
  • Telugu: Arugampul, Garika
  • Marathi: दूर्वा

Ber Patra

• Botanical Name: Ziziphus mauritiana, Ziziphus jujuba
• Common Names:
  • English: Indian Date, Jujube
  • Hindi: बेर
  • Sanskrit: बदर
  • Telugu: Regu
  • Marathi: बोर

Datura Patra

• Botanical Name: Datura metel
• Common Names:
  • English: Thorn Apple, Downy Thorn Apple
  • Hindi: धतूरा
  • Sanskrit: धत्तूर
  • Telugu: Ummetta
  • Marathi: धोत्रा

Tulasi Patra

• Botanical Name: Ocimum tenuiflorum
• Common Names:
  • English: Basil, Holy Basil
  • Hindi: तुलसी
  • Sanskrit: तुलसी
  • Telugu: Tulasi
  • Marathi: तुळशी, तुळस

Sem Patra

• Botanical Name: Phaseolus vulgaris
• Common Names:
  • English: Bonavista Bean, Dolichos Bean
  • Hindi: सेम
  • Sanskrit: शिम्बी, अङ्गुलिफला, शिम्बा
  • Telugu: Chikkudu
  • Marathi: घेवडा

Apamarga Patra

• Botanical Name: Achyranthes aspera
• Common Names:
  • English: Prickly Chaff Flower
  • Hindi: अपामार्ग
  • Sanskrit: अपामार्ग, अपामार्गसस्यम्, खरमञ्जरी
  • Telugu: Uttareni
  • Marathi: अघाडा

Bhatakataiya Patra

• Botanical Name: Solanum virginianum
• Common Names:
  • English: Yellow Berried Nightshade
  • Hindi: भटकटैया, कण्टकारी
  • Sanskrit: अग्निदमनी, अनाक्रान्ता
  • Telugu: Gurrapu Gattaku
  • Marathi: डोरली

Sindoor Patra

• Botanical Name: Bixa orellana
• Common Names:
  • English: Achiote Tree
  • Hindi: सिन्दूर
  • Sanskrit: सिन्दूर
  • Telugu: Sindooram
  • Marathi: हिंगूळ

Tej Patra

• Botanical Name: Cinnamomum tamala
• Common Names:
  • English: Indian Bay Leaf, Tejpatta
  • Hindi: तेज पात, तेजपत्ता
  • Sanskrit: तमालक
  • Telugu: Talisapatri
  • Marathi: तमालपत्र

Agastya Patra

• Botanical Name: Sesbania grandiflora
• Common Names:
  • English: Hummingbird Tree, Agati
  • Hindi: अगस्त्य, हतिया, अगस्ता
  • Sanskrit: अगस्त्य
  • Telugu: Avisa
  • Marathi: अगस्ती, अगस्ता

Kaner Patra

• Botanical Name: Nerium indicum
• Common Names:
  • English: Indian Oleander, Oleander
  • Hindi: कनेर
  • Sanskrit: करवीर
  • Telugu: Ganneru
  • Marathi: कणेर, कणेरी

Kadali / Kela Patra

• Botanical Name: Musa acuminata
• Common Names:
  • English: Banana
  • Hindi: कदली (केला) पत्र
  • Sanskrit: कदली
  • Telugu: Arati
  • Marathi: केळ

Arka Patra

• Botanical Name: Calotropis procera
• Common Names:
  • English: Sodom Apple, Dead Sea Apple
  • Hindi: आक, मुदर
  • Sanskrit: अर्क
  • Telugu: Jilledu
  • Marathi: अर्क, अर्की

Arjuna Patra

• Botanical Name: Terminalia arjuna
• Common Names:
  • English: White Marudah
  • Hindi: अर्जुन वृक्ष, कौहा, कोह
  • Sanskrit: अर्जुनवृक्षः, अर्जुन
  • Telugu: Tella Maddi, Yerra Maddi
  • Marathi: अर्जुन वृक्ष

Devdar Patra

• Botanical Name: Cedrus deodara
• Common Names:
  • English: Deodar Cedar, Himalayan Cedar
  • Hindi: देवदार
  • Sanskrit: देवदारु
  • Telugu: Devadaru
  • Marathi: देवदार

Marua Patra

• Botanical Name: Origanum majorana
• Common Names:
  • English: Marjoram
  • Hindi: मरुआ
  • Sanskrit: सुरभिपत्त्र
  • Telugu: Maruvam
  • Marathi: मरवा

Gandari Patra

• Botanical Name: Phanera variegata
• Common Names:
  • English: Kachnar, Orchid Tree
  • Hindi: गण्डारि पत्र, कचनार
  • Sanskrit: आस्फोत, देवकाञ्चन
  • Telugu: Devakanchanamu
  • Marathi: कांचन

Ketaki Patra

• Botanical Name: Pandanus utilis
• Common Names:
  • English: Pandanus, Pandan, Screw Pine
  • Hindi: केतकी
  • Sanskrit: हनील, जम्बुल
  • Telugu: Gedaga
  • Marathi: केगद, केवडा

Wishing you a joyous and blessed Ganesh Chaturthi!