Chhath Puja is a very old Hindu festival and is celebrated mainly in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, for four days in respect of the welcome Sun God and invoking Chhathi Maiya-the goddess of longevity, prosperity, and welfare. An integral feature of Chhath Puja is the preparing and presenting traditional foods. Preparing these traditional foods requires intense devotion and has their own significance. This year, the Chaath festival will be starting from 5th-8th November. Take a look at some of the traditional foods prepared for this festival and their significance.
Thekua
Chhath Puja festival is incomplete without its favorite sweet offering – thekua. These are made from whole wheat flour, jaggery, and ghee fried until they become golden brown and crispy. The symbolism of Thekua at the festival is purity in its simplicity in offerings made to the Sun God. Jaggery in the making of Thekua brings out the sweetness while ensuring it has nutritional value and is a tasty, healthy snack.
Kasar Laddu
Kasar laddu, also known as khajur laddu, is a sweet dish during Chhath Puja, prepared using roasted rice flour, ghee, and jaggery. These laddus are small and dense, mild in sweetness, and earthy in flavor. They are known for their long shelf life and are prepared ahead of time. Kasar laddus are prasad to Chhathi Maiya, which symbolizes prosperity and abundance.
Rice Kheer
A big dish in the Chhath Puja rituals is rice kheer, a creamy and comforting rice pudding. Kheer is prepared with rice, milk, and sugar or jaggery. Cardamom flavor and garnishing with nuts are common to add richness. Kheer symbolizes gratitude and devotion and is served as prasad to denote the blessings of the gods.
Puri
Deep-fried bread is another highly available offering in Chhath Puja, widely referred to as puri. Typically made of wheat flour and ghee, accompanied by an array of different dishes like aloo bhaji and kaddu ki sabzi, the puris are something sacred for being prepared with utmost caution as part of the longstanding offerings of the deities. Its lightness gives it a pretty balanced flavour among the prasad it nicely accompanies.
Kaddu Ki Sabzi
Kaddu ki sabzi is a simple pumpkin curry prepared with mild spices, often served with puris during Chhath Puja. The pumpkin is believed to bring warmth and sustenance, and this dish is usually prepared without onion or garlic to maintain purity. Kaddu ki sabzi’s subtly spiced flavor and natural sweetness make it a comforting and humble addition to the Chhath Puja meal.
Gur ki Roti
One such lesser-known offering that people make during Chhath Puja is the gur ki roti or jaggery-flavored flatbread. These rotis are made out of wheat flour and jaggery, which make it sweet in taste; usually, a pinch of fennel seeds goes in to give it some more fragrance. Gur ki roti stands for simplicity and love and represents the gratitude of the devotee and the faith they have. The sweet taste of jaggery provides an earthy feel, which is comforting when having the roti and forms a part of prasad.
Coconut Rice Laddu
Coconut rice laddus are prepared with grated coconut, rice flour, jaggery, and occasionally cardamom. These sweet, small eatables are perfect to be made for Chhath Puja as they are fairly easy to prepare, wholesome, and tasty. Coconut rice laddus basically mean the embodiment of purification and the sanctity of food while offering in chhath puja, which brings out the deliciousness of Chhath Puja prasad.
Importance of food in Chhath Puja
The foods prepared during Chhath Puja are not only delectable but also symbolic. Rice, wheat, jaggery, and coconut are used to make these offerings. These reflect the spirit of simplicity, purity, and devotion that defines the festival. Devotees fast and abstain from certain foods, focusing on humble, home-cooked dishes as a mark of respect for the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya.
All the dishes prepared with love and honesty symbolize gratitude and hope for well-being, good fortune, and happiness. Families prepare and share these home-made delights with others and embrace the richness of cultural and spiritual legacy left behind by this ancient festival.
