Chhath Puja 2025: 5 traditional recipes to prepare
What's the story
Chhath Puja, one of the most sacred festivals dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, is celebrated with great devotion in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Nepal. The four-day festival culminates with offerings made to the rising Sun on the last day, also known as Parna. On this occasion, several traditional dishes are prepared as part of the prasad offered to both deities. Here are some recipes you can try.
Recipe 1
Kheer
The first dish is a special kheer, also known as rasia, made by cooking rice in milk with jaggery and water. It is usually served with hot pooris. The combination makes for a delicious prasad that is first offered to the Sun God before being consumed by devotees who are fasting.
Recipe 2
Thekua
Thekua, a traditional Bihari sweet, is another popular prasad made during Chhath Puja. The dish is prepared by making a dough of wheat flour, jaggery, dry fruits, and fennel seeds. The dough is shaped into small discs or pressed into decorative molds, then fried until golden brown.
Recipe 3
Ghiya sabzi
Ghiya sabzi (bottle gourd) cooked in ghee over clay pots is an important prasad for Chhath Puja. The dish is made using ganga jal and no other water, symbolizing the purification of the body. It is usually served with boiled rice, making it a wholesome addition to your festive meal.
Recipe 4
Chana dal and steamed rice
Chana dal (split chickpeas) soaked for three to four hours and then pressure-cooked with a chaunk of spices like cumin seeds, coriander powder, and whole red chilies in ghee is another prasad for Chhath Puja. Steamed rice can also be prepared by soaking basmati rice for some time before boiling them in water with salt. These savory dishes balance out the sweetness of kheer and thekua perfectly.
Recipe 5
Kaddu bhujia
Kaddu bhujia, a simple yet flavorful dish, holds a special place in the arghya offerings of Chhath Puja and is enjoyed after the rituals. Prepared with pumpkin, ghee, cumin seeds, and turmeric, this dish is both light and wholesome. The pumpkin cubes are gently sauteed in ghee with cumin and turmeric until they turn soft and lightly caramelized.