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In major parts of the Indian subcontinent, no matter what your mother tongue is, Thursday is known as Guruvaar, Brihaspativaar or Veervaar. According to Hindu religion, the day is named after Lord Brihaspati (Jupiter), the deity for knowledge, wisdom, wealth, prosperity and justice. Appearing first in the Rig Veda, this Hindu deity is revered as the Guru or teacher by all. Thursday is also a day dedicated to the worship of Lord Vishnu as well as Shirdi Sai Baba.
Naturally, the day is considered auspicious across multiple regions. And just like on most days considered auspicious according to Hinduism, there are certain foods recommended for inclusion and exclusion in the diet. For example, moong dal is considered inauspicious on this day, which is why most people avoid eating moong dal khichdi on Thursdays. On the other hand, yellow foods, flowers and even clothes are considered auspicious on this day. So, what is it that you can and should consume or offer to the gods on Thursdays? Read on to find out.
Kadhi
While there are many varieties of Kadhi from across India, we are referring here to the North Indian version. Made with yoghurt, turmeric, chickpea or gram flour and other spices, the North Indian savoury Kadhi is prepared across Indian households. It’s considered to be particularly auspicious on Thursdays because the dish is yellow and prepared with yoghurt. Many even choose to add pakodas to the Kadhi, making it a wholesome Thursday meal when paired with rice.
Chana Dal
While moong dal is considered inauspicious on Thursdays, chana dal consumption is considered to be appropriate because it symbolizes good luck where health and wealth are concerned. You could simply make a Chana Dal Tadka to pair with rice, or opt to make Puran Poli. The latter dish includes both chana dal and gud or jaggery (which is also an auspicious ingredient according to Ayurveda), making it a doubly auspicious dish to have.
Basanti Pulao
Now here’s a dish you can not only cook up on Thursdays, but also on other festivals like Basant Panchami. Rice, saffron, ghee, dry fruits and sugar—all considered to be auspicious ingredients and included in most Hindu rituals for prosperity and abundance—go into the making of the simple yet delicious Basanti Pulao. Also known as Meetha Pulao, this yellow dish is very easy to prepare.
Besan Laddoo
This melt-in-the-mouth sweet is popular across India, and not only as a prasad on Thursdays. In this case, it’s the auspicious marriage of gram flour, ghee and jaggery or sugar that makes this sweetmeat the perfect offering for the gods. Slow roasting gram flour in ghee until it turns golden and aromatic is quite the cumbersome task if you’re not used to making Indian sweets—which is why most people opt to buy freshly crafted Besan Laddoos at their local halwai’s.
