5 Main Elements Of Durga Puja’s Ashtami Bhog

Bhog or prasad is distributed to devotees on the seventh (Saptami), eighth (Ashtami), and ninth (Navami) day of Durga puja. The Ashtami bhog is a special vegetarian meal cooked without garlic and onions. Bhog serves two purposes: it is given as an offering to Goddess Durga, and then it is distributed to feed the community. Take a look at the main elements of the Ashtami bhog recipe that is prepared on the occasion of Durga Puja.

1. Khichuri

Bengali Khichuri or ‘bhoger khichuri’ is a one-pot dish that is made with (sona or golden) moong dal rice, and an assortment of spices. This is not the bland khichdi you have at home when you are sick. This khichuri is considered to be the most important element of the bhog. It is made with gobindobhog rice, a fragrant, short-grain variety of rice. But you can try this dish with basmati rice as well.

2. Beguni

Beguni or eggplant fritter is a quintessential Bengali dish. It is prepared by slicing the eggplants and coating them with gram flour or besan batter before deep-frying in hot oil.

3. Labra

Labra is a traditional Bengali dish that consists of various vegetables. It is super healthy and nutritious. In this dish, several different vegetables like potato, spinach, pumpkin, radish, etc are cooked together with panch phoran (which is a blend of five spices), asafoetida, and a bunch of other spices.

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4. Payesh

Payesh is a type of kheer made with rice, milk, cardamom powder, and chopped dried fruits and nuts. This version of the Bengali rice pudding is not runny but thick and is made using Gobindobhog rice. This dessert has a creamy and rich texture. A dish fit for the gods!

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5. Tomato Chutney

This is a sweet and spicy combination. It is made using tomatoes, ginger, mustard oil, panch phoron, salt, sugar, red chilli flakes, raisins, the occasional Aamshotto (fruit leather made of mango pulp), and some water. It is super delicious and easy to make.

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