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Chhath Puja, one of the most sacred festivals of Bihar, is a festival of thankfulness, righteousness, and devotion devoted to Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya. Food also plays an important role during this festival, as every offering is prepared with love, simplicity, and ingredients that are sourced from nature. Unlike other festivals where delicacies are prepared rich in dairy and spices, Chhath sweets are primarily made using jaggery, wheat, rice, and ghee, representing purity and restraint. From the crisp thekua to the rich rasiya kheer, every dessert holds the fragrance of tradition as well as the warmth of home.
These treats are not just sweets, but they are signs of devotion, defining Bihar’s deep link to nature as well as the harvest season. Prepared with utmost sanctity in every household, these traditional treats make Chhath Puja a soulful blend of prayer, persistence, and simplicity.
Thekua
Thekua is a must-have sweet during Chhath Puja, which is prepared as an offering to Surya Dev. Prepared by blending whole wheat flour, jaggery, and some ghee, it is deep-fried until it turns golden perfection. The texture is crispy on the outside and soft from within, having a caramelised sweetness. The simple preparation process of the kua symbolises devotion as well as purity, making it the heart of Bihar’s festive spirit. Served as prasad, the aroma of thekua instantly connects devotees with the warmth of tradition.
Rasiya Kheer
Rasiya Kheer is prepared with jaggery, milk, and rice. Unlike the regular kheer, resiya kheer has a rich brown colour and smoky sweetness from the caramelisation of jaggery. Prepared a day before the main puja, rasiya kheer is served chilled and has a thick consistency, representing patience and devotion. The comforting, earthy sweetness remains long after every bite, ideal for the morning rituals of Chhath Puja.
Atte Ke Ladoo Or Pinni
During Chhath Puja, atte ka ladoo or pinni are made by mixing jaggery or gud and ghee and then shaped to make soft, chewy balls. They are loaded with energy with a melt-in-mouth texture, which is both healthy and divine. These laddus are part of the prasad thali, which is offered during arghya. The warm, nutty flavour of these ladoos makes them perfect for early-morning rituals and for cool weather, representing nourishment and thankfulness to the Surya Dev for sustaining life as well as the harvest.
Kasar
Kasar is another Chhath Puja essential offering, which is simple and deeply rooted in Bihar’s culinary roots. Prepared by mixing roasted rice flour with jaggery and ghee and then shaping to make laddus. Kasar has a light, grainy texture and a bit of earthy sweetness. It mirrors the purity and simplicity of the Chhath puja, free from artificial flavour or dairy products. Offered as a prasad, it delivers warmth and strength to devotees fasting for a long duration, which is a true reflection of affection through food.
Malpua
Malpua often graces the festive spread of Chhath Puja as a celebratory extravagance. They are small, fluffy, prepared from flour, milk, and gud that are deeply-fried in ghee and then soaked in sugar syrup or served as it is. Crispy from the edges and soft from inside, malpuas hit a perfect balance of texture as well as sweetness. The aroma of cardamom and the fried ghee floats through every Bihari kitchen, celebrating the festival’s joy while observing age-old culinary traditions.
