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One of the most significant festivals in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Eastern Uttar Pradesh is Chhath Puja, which is celebrated with traditional prasad preparations, devotion, and strict fasting. All meals prepared during this festival are offerings to the Sun God, have spiritual meaning, and are passed from generation to generation. Following certain rites and traditions, these foods are cooked with utmost cleanliness and dedication. From the morning prayers (usha araghya) to the evening offerings (sandhya araghya), every preparation has a special place throughout the four-day celebration. This traditional festival stays as nice and sacred as it has been for the generations ahead because the ingredients and the cooking methods are still alike.
Thekua
The most significant prasad of Chhath Puja is Thekua, sometimes referred to as Thekuwa or Thikari. These are traditional dishes prepared from whole wheat flour, jaggery, and ghee and have elegant shapes that have been formed with specific moulds. This is a very special offering to the sun god. Thekua, which is made with love and care by devotees, is more than just a treat; it is a representation of purity and dedication. They are enjoyed at festivals because they are sweet and crunchy in nature. Thekua, one of the most famous dishes of Chhath Puja, embodies the essence of the celebration as well as the cultural legacy of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
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Pirukiya
Another traditional snack prepared for Chhath Puja is pirukiya, which is the ideal way to start up the festivities. That is a traditional type of dessert that is fried and has a sweet filling. This rich and delicious dessert is produced with refined flour dough with a filling comprising khoya (milk solids), coconut, dry fruits, and sugar. During Chhath Puja rites, Pirukiya is frequently served as prasad and is renowned for its crispy texture and sweet, delicious inside. This sweet is a need for this special time due to its soft flavour and nice look, which shows love and devotion of the festival.
Hara Chana
In Chhath Puja offerings, green chickpeas, or Hara Chana, have a unique place. To symbolise simplicity and purity, the boiled and soaked chickpeas are seasoned with salt, green chillies, and lemon juice. This high-protein input is especially important during the fasting time because it gives the devotees essential nutrients. The festival's focus on natural and sattvic cuisine is in accordance with the use of fresh ingredients and little seasonings. An essential part of the celebration, Hara Chana is frequently served during the morning araghya and represents the harvest season and the connection to nature.
Chawal Ke Ladoo
During Chhath celebrations, these sweet rice balls stand for dedication and purity. These ladoos, which are made with powdered rice, cardamom, and jaggery, need to be made by skilled hands in order to get the ideal round shape and consistency. To make tasty, spherical balls, the rice flour is roasted and combined with melted ghee and jaggery. It's a healthy treat because of the earthy flavour of the rice and the sweetness of the jaggery. These ladoos, which represent the sweetness of devotion and the purity of intentions, are regarded as an auspicious offering.
Lauki Bhaat
In Chhath Puja, this simple rice and bottle gourd recipe has profound meaning. The event focuses on simple, sattvic food by cooking lauki (bottle gourd) with rice and a minimal number of spices that are required for the preparation of the dish. In keeping with the festival's strict rules, the meal is made without garlic or onions. The bottle gourd is a nutritious meal for devotees during the fasting season since it is prepared with few spices and served with bhaat, or plain boiled rice. The preparation of Lauki Bhaat is quite simple, and it is justified by the fact that the essence of the festival is total purity.
Rasiyaw / Rasiya
A traditional sweet dish that is essential to the Chhath Puja sweets offerings is Rasiyaw, also called Rasiya. The benefits of rice, milk, and jaggery are combined in rashiyaw, a sweet rice dish. This meal, which resembles kheer, is cooked gradually until it becomes creamy. Its flavour and nutritional content are improved by the addition of cardamom and dry fruits. During the evening of Arghya, Rasiyaw is offered to the Sun God and is very important. Rasiyaw's nice, warm flavours are a comfort in the festivity, and it shows the ease and cleanness of Chhath Puja. It is a treat that is necessary, and, through the prayers of preparation and symbolism, people are connected with the divine.
Dahi Chuda
The ceremonies of Chhath Puja come to an end on Dahi chuda. The morning after the last araghya, this cool mixture of yoghurt, fruits, and flattened rice (chuda/poha) is offered. Occasionally, bananas and other seasonal fruits are added to the meal, which is enhanced with sugar or jaggery. This dish, which is light and refreshing, is frequently eaten during the early morning Chhath Puja rites. Dahi chuda, which is well-known for its cooling qualities and simplicity of preparation, represents simplicity and purity, which are exactly associated with the spirit of the celebration. It is an essential dish for the Chhath Puja celebrations since it is both nutritional and spiritual.
Devotees honour the Sun God and Earth Goddess while celebrating abundance and purity by incorporating traditional preparations into the Puja ceremonies. By getting into it, the tradition of these dishes ensures that the spirit of the festival will stay with families while reminding everyone of the importance of honouring nature and its abundance.
