Traditional Dishes Celebrated During Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja Dishes: A Celebration of Tradition
Chhath Puja Dishes: Chhath Puja is a revered festival in India, honoring the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. This significant event is marked by deep devotion, particularly in regions like Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh, as well as among the Indian diaspora. Spanning four days, the festival involves key rituals such as Nahay-Khay, Kharna, Sandhya Arghya, and Usha Arghya.
Central to Chhath Puja are the sattvik and traditional dishes prepared for the occasion, which are offered to Chhathi Maiya. Below, we delve into five essential dishes that are traditionally prepared during this festival.
Thekua
Thekua stands out as the most cherished offering during Chhath Puja. Crafted from wheat flour, jaggery or sugar, ghee, and cardamom powder, Thekua is molded using a special wooden form and then fried in ghee or oil. After being offered to the Sun God, this prasad is shared among fasting women and family members.
Rasiya Kheer
This traditional kheer, made with jaggery and rice, is presented to Chhathi Maiya during the Arghya ceremony. Instead of milk, jaggery and pure ghee are used, imparting a sattvic and fragrant flavor. Rasiya Kheer is specifically prepared on the second day of Chhath Puja, known as Kharna.
Kasar
Kasar, or Kasar Laddoo, is created by roasting gram flour (besan) in pure ghee and mixing in jaggery. These treats are not only delicious but also nutritious and energizing. Kasar is distributed as prasad and is considered particularly favored by Chhathi Maiya.
Poori and Chana Dal
On Saptami, fasting women enjoy puri and chana dal, which are also prepared as prasad. Puri is made from wheat flour and fried in pure ghee, while chana dal is cooked with mild spices to ensure a sattvic meal.
Kaddu Bhaat
The Chhath festival commences with Nahay-Khaay, a ritual involving the preparation of pumpkin curry and rice. In Bihar, pumpkin is referred to as gourd. The pumpkin is cooked with rock salt and turmeric, and this prasad is consumed by devotees with purity after bathing, marking the start of the fasting period.
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