Chhath Pooja 2023: What is it and the Top 5 Traditional Bihari Sweets Everyone Should Try

Date of Chhath Puja 2023 in India: Chhath Puja is a traditional Hindu celebration honoring Surya Dev and Shashthi Devi. Chhath Puja is a four-day festival that follows Diwali. Millions of followers will attend Chhath Puja, a festival dedicated to Surya, the Sun God, and his sister Usha (Chhathi Maiya). It is primarily observed in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh in India, as well as in some regions of Nepal. Surya Shashthi, Chhath Mahaparv, Chhath Parv, Dala Puja, Pratihar, and Dala Chhath are all names for Chhath Puja. Chhath Puja will be held this year on Friday, November 17, and will remain until Monday, November 20, 2023. Dates of Fasting for Chhath Puja in 2023: The four-day event begins with the Chhath Nahay Khay, which will be held this year on Friday, November 17. On Saturday, November 18, the second day will be Lohanda and Kharna. Sandhya Arghya will be offered to the Sun God on the evening of the third day, Sunday, November 19. The event will conclude on Monday, November 20, 2023, with the offering of Usha Arghya to the rising Sun on the morning of the fourth day.In the state of Bihar, Chhath Puja will be held this year on Friday, November 17, and will remain until Monday, November 20. During the puja, women fast for 36 hours and pray for their children's health, happiness, and long life. The freshly cooked desserts offered throughout the festivities are the main attractions of Chhath Puja. For Chhath Puja, many exquisite foods such as thekua, gur ki kheer, kesar ke laddu, and others are prepared. Here are a few dessert recipes that are simple to make at home! 1. Thekua Khasta Thekua biscuits are crunchy and somewhat sweet. On Chhath Puja, it is also served as prasad. Making thekua is simple, but obtaining the correct texture is a hard challenge. The meal's flavor is complemented with just the right amount of crisp and crunch.  This sugary delicacy is created with ghee, wheat flour, and dried fruits. The ingredients are combined to form a stiff dough that is then fashioned into small to medium-sized tikkis and deep-fried in pure ghee. 2. Rasiyaw / Rasia We now bring to you the gur ki kheer, a dessert served to the Sun God on the occasion of the festival. After puja, devotees break their fast with this meal, also known as rasiyaw or rasia. This dish's main ingredients are rice, milk, water, and jaggery. For added taste, sprinkle with shredded dry fruits and powdered cardamom. It goes well with whole wheat poori. 3. Belgrami Paneer Khurma  Belgrami has several faces. Gaja, murki, paneer khurma, and khurma are some more names for it. There are numerous stories associated with it, much like the many names it has. The cooking technique varies slightly as well. This dish contains sugar and chhena, or farmer's cheese. This is a simple dish, yet it might be difficult to cook. Timing is everything when it comes to cooking. Add the paneer cubes when the sugar has completely dissolved and the syrup has reached a lovely boil. Drop the paneer cubes into the syrup one at a time, being careful not to overcook them.  4. Kesar Ke Laddu In addition to rice kheer and thekua, another incredibly popular dessert is produced. Keasar Ke Laddu is one such prasad made for Chhath Puja, which is conducted on Sandhya Arghya's birthday. It simply takes a few minutes to prepare and is quite simple. Fennel, ghee, powdered rice, and jaggery powder can be used to prepare it.  5. Khoya Aur Chawal Ki Kheer One of India's most well-known desserts, chawal ki kheer, can be easily and swiftly produced at home with only a few ingredients. It's an excellent dessert for any occasion, or you can simply offer it as a post-meal treat. In simple terms, kheer is an Indian version of rice pudding that is similar to the rice payasam that is prepared in homes in South India. Fine Basmati rice is cooked in whole milk, sweetened with sugar, and scented with green cardamom powder. You can top it with roasted pistachio nuts and chopped almonds for garnishing.  On this day, people honor the Sun God, thanking him for the many blessings he has given to the planet. The Sun is our planet's primary source of energy. The Sun provides energy to all living things, big or small, visible or invisible, mobile or immobile. During Chhath Puja, this supreme power is genuinely worshiped. This puja's delicious delicacies exhibit India's traditional culinary traditions, in addition to religious events.