Chaitra Navratri is a nine-day-long Hindu festival that marks the arrival of the Hindu New Year. Over the course of nine auspicious days, devotees pay homage to Goddess Durga and her various avatars. This highly revered festival began on March 22nd this year and concluded today, March 30, 2023, with Ram Navami, the ninth day of Navratri and also the day when Lord Rama's birth is commemorated. Hindus across the world celebrate the eighth and ninth days of this festival with special prayers called the 'kanjak puja, where bhog, or offerings of halwa, poori, and sookhe chana, are made and relished later. Some popular Bollywood celebrities didn't stop at just the special kanjak puja in their homes this year. They also indulged in the popular bhog of halwa, puri, and sookhe chane. Their love for the delicacy was quite apparent. Don't take our word for it. Read on.
As the auspicious occasion of Chaitra Navratri draws to a close, devotees come together to offer their prayers and seek the blessings of Goddess Durga. A significant part of this day's festivities is the preparation of bhog, an offering made to the deity and young girls (kanjaks). The spread for the kanjaks includes a variety of fruits, gifts, ladoos, halwa, poori, chana, and more. It's safe to say that this mouthwatering feast has us all hooked, and it looks like it's no different for our favourite Bollywood stars too, as some of them were spotted keeping up with the rich traditions and culture by participating in the festivities and enjoying the special bhog.
On the occasion of Ashtami and Navami, several actors, including Kriti Sanon, Anushka Sharma, Nikita Dutta, and Ayushmann Khurrana, took to Instagram to share a glimpse of their Navratri special kanjak prasad and wish their followers well on the occasion. Kriti and Ayushmann shared a picture of their plateful of puris with a side of chana and a bowl of decadent-looking halwa. Kriti wrote,"Happy Ashtami" for her followers, while Ayushmann's caption read "kanjak" in Hindi with a heart emoji alongside it.
Kriti and Ayushmann weren't the only ones to revel in the joyful spirit. Anushka, with her artistic finesse, shared a glimpse of her culinary delight. In a short video, she captured a bowl of perfectly golden puris, accompanied by a bowl of half-eaten sookha kala chana. The contrast of colours and textures made for a tantalising treat.
On the other hand, Nikita Dutta, the illustrious Kabir Singh actor, took to Instagram to share her Ashtami celebrations. She beamed with delight as she held a plate brimming with her special bhog that was adorned with freshly fried puris, a serving of chana, and a generous helping of halwa, garnished with delectable chunks of dry fruits. Her face radiated with joy as she revealed how this feast "keeps her motivated" throughout the Navratri festivities.
Kanjak bhog is a traditional meal that includes kala chana (black chickpeas), crispy pooris, and a bowl of sooji halwa. The Kanjak ki thali, consisting of chana, poori, and halwa, is known to have abundant nutrition that packs us with energy and contributes to the smooth functioning of the digestive system. Everything is cooked in pure desi ghee, which adds to the nutritional value of the food. No wonder our Bollywood celebs are fans of this delicious bhog!