February is just around the corner and so is the joy of celebrating the awaited Vasant Panchami. The bountiful spring season is a special occasion in almost every household. Hindus welcome and worship the goddess of learning, Saraswati, on the day of Vasant Panchami. Born and brought up in east India, I have celebrated Vasant Panchami with great joy since my childhood. From using haldi ubtan, wearing yellow clothes and offering white and yellow flowers to the goddess to relishing an assortment of delicacies, Vasant Panchami has always been an extravagant affair.
Once in Delhi, I was invited to a Bengali friend’s house to celebrate Saraswati Puja and indulge in a lavish feast. Taking a cue from that memorable feast, here’s a list of items you can add to your very own bhog platter.
1. Khichuri
An important part of the Bengali bhog culture, khichuri is melt-in-your-mouth comfort food. The rice dish is delicious, aromatic and comes with oodles of ghee. A must-have on Vasant Panchami, khichuri is made with minimal kitchen staples.
2. Labra
For the unversed, labra is a vegetarian Bengali delicacy made with seasonal vegetables. The subtle yet delicious flavours perfectly compliment the khichuri and complete the platter.
3. Beguni
Undoubtedly, Bengali cuisine is a celebration of flavours and textures. To add a crispy element to your Bengali bhog platter, deep-fry some eggplants after dipping them in a gram flour batter. These deep-fried delights are perfect to make you ask for more.
4. Kuler Chutney
Kul or ber is a mandatory offering to the goddess Saraswati on Vasant Panchami. Apart from serving it as naivedya, kul is also made into a chutney and served in the community feasts.
5. Payesh
The thick and creamy Bengali delight is enough to set the festive vibe in Bengali households. Quite similar to but different from kheer in terms of consistency, payesh is enough to add the sweeter edge to your Bengali bhog platter.
6. Rajbhog
Needless to say, we Indians can never celebrate a festival without having sweets. And Rajbhog is a must for many Bengalis on Saraswati Puja. The soft and spongy treat with the yellow hue is perfect to set anyone’s mood for Saraswati Puja.
Try this Bengali bhog platter this Saraswati Puja and let us know how you like it.
