We are still finding it hard to say goodbye to the holiday season, but there's still one big event left: Yes, Chhath Puja.
Known as one of the most environmentally friendly religious festivals, Chhath Puja is a four-day Hindu celebration that is primarily celebrated in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Jharkhand. It is held twice a year, during the months of Chaitra and Kartika, and is dedicated to the worship of the Sun God through prayers and religious rituals.
People celebrate the Sun God on this day, giving thanks to him for the many benefits he has bestowed upon this world. The main energy source for our world is the Sun. The Sun provides energy to all living things, no matter how big or little, visible or invisible, or mobile or immovable. This ultimate power is sincerely worshipped during Chhath Puja.
In addition to religious ceremonies, this puja's exquisite delicacies showcase India's customary culinary traditions. Even though Thekua, a famous dish made during this celebration, is well-known for several of us, there are a tonne of other treats that we haven't yet tried. Among them are Belgram and Rasiyav Kheer. We've compiled a list of the top Bihari cuisine dishes you should taste during Chhath Puja.
Video Credit: YouTube/Hebbars Kitchen
Khasta Thekua
Thekua biscuits are crisp with a hint of sweetness. It is also served as a prasad on Chhath Puja. Making thekua is easy, but the true trick is getting the texture just perfect. The flavor of the meal is enhanced by just the proper amount of crisp and crunch.
This sweet dessert is made with sugar, ghee, wheat flour, and dry fruits. The ingredients are mixed together to make a tight dough, which is then formed into small to medium-sized tikkis and deep-fried in pure ghee.
Rasiyaw / Rasia
We now present to you the gur ki kheer, a dessert that is served to the Sun God on the occasion of the festival. After puja, devotees break their fast with this dish, popularly referred to as rasiyaw or rasia.
The primary components of this dish include rice, milk, water, and jaggery. You can also top it with shredded dry fruits and powdered cardamom for more flavor. Enjoy it with whole wheat poori.
Paneer Khurma (Belgrami)
Belgrami has multiple identities. It is also known by the names gaja, murki, paneer khurma, and khurma. Like the many names it goes by, there are a variety of stories connected to it. There is also a small variance in the cooking process.
Sugar and chhena, or farmer's cheese, are used in this dish. This is a pretty easy dish, but it can be challenging to prepare. When it comes to cooking, timing is everything. When the sugar has completely dissolved and the syrup has come to a beautiful boil, add the paneer cubes to it. One by one, drop the paneer cubes into the syrup, and be careful not to prevent it from boiling. For a few minutes, pressure cook the paneer on high heat with the lid closed.
Kasar Ke Laddu
In addition to rice kheer and thekua, another kind of dessert is prepared that is extremely popular. Keasar Ke Laddu is one such prasad prepared for Chhath Puja, which is held during Sandhya Arghya's day.
It takes only a few minutes to prepare and is quite simple. You can make it with fennel, ghee, powdered rice, and jaggery powder.
Khoya Aur Chawal Ki Kheer
Chawal ki kheer, one of the most widely recognized desserts in India, can be prepared easily and quickly at home with only a handful of components. It's a great dessert dish to celebrate any occasion or you can just serve it as a post-meal treat.
In simple terms, kheer is an Indian version of rice pudding that is similar to the rice payasam that is prepared in homes in South India. Fine Basmati rice is cooked in whole milk, sweetened with sugar, and scented with green cardamom powder. You can top it with roasted pistachio nuts and chopped almonds for garnishing.
Hope you enjoy these recipes for Chhath Puja. Happy Chhath Puja!