Chhath Puja 2025: Traditional dishes you must prepare for this festival

New Delhi: Chhath Puja, the four-day Hindu festival, is celebrated with great devotion and reverence to the Sun God or Surya Devta and Shahsthi Devi or Chhathi Maiya in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. Apart from the traditional rituals, the festival is also known for its simple yet delicious food offerings. Prepared with utmost sincerity and love, these dishes are not only a part of the prasad or sacred offerings but also symbolise the spirit of the festival.

This year, Chhath Puja will be observed from October 25 to 28. Nahay Khay, which literally means bathe and eat, marks the beginning of the festival with the purification process. It is followed by Kharna, Sandhya Arghya, and Usha Arghya. As the festival is not far away, let’s explore the various essential dishes traditionally associated with Chhath Puja.

1. Thekua

Thekua, a deep-fried delicacy made of wheat flour, jaggery, and ghee, is a must-have offering to the Sun God. Its crunchy texture and sweet taste make it one of the most iconic Chhath Puja foods.

2. Pirukiya

Pirukiya, a traditional deep-fried pastry, is made from refined flour, khoya or milk solids, coconut, dry fruits, and sugar. Known for its crispy texture and sweet, flavourful interior, Pirukiya is often served as prasad during the Chhath Puja rituals.

3. Rice ladoo

Chawal ke ladoo, a simple yet special sweet, is prepared from rice flour, jaggery, and ghee as a popular offering to the Sun God. The process involves roasting the rice flour and mixing it with melted jaggery and ghee to form delicious, round balls.

4. Hara chana

Hara Chana, or green chickpeas, is often used in the form of offerings to the Sun God during the rituals. These are typically boiled or lightly sautéed and served as a savoury dish.

5. Pumpkin rice

Kaddu bhaat, a humble yet flavorful dish, consists of pumpkin curry that is served with plain boiled rice. Cooked without onions and garlic, the pumpkin curry is mildly spiced.

6. Parwal sweets

Parwal ki mithai, a unique and delightful sweet, is made from pointed gourd by making a hole and stuffing it with a rich mixture of khoya, dry fruits, and sugar. It is then cooked in sugar syrup to give it a glossy finish and enhance its sweetness.

7. Dahi chuda

Dahi chuda is prepared by mixing flattened rice or chuda or poha with curd and sometimes sweetened with sugar or jaggery. This dish is often consumed during the early morning rituals of Chhath Puja.

8. Rasiya

Rasiya or rasiyaw is a traditional sweet dish made from rice, jaggery, and milk. This kheer-like dish is cooked with devotion and offered to the Sun God during the evening Arghya.

The Chhath Puja sweets not only reflect simplicity, purity and customs but also nourish the body and connect the devotees to nature and the divine. So, don’t forget to feel the wholesome experience with these traditional desserts!