Saraswati puja – The day itself comes with a lot of childhood memories. Students are happy because they can go to the school wearing colorful traditional dresses. They are even allowed to visit other local schools. Students are eager to know the timing for anjali so that they can prepare by that time. But after anjali & puja the main thing comes in the mind is Saraswati puja bhog menu. Everybody who is performing puja/anjali at home they had to plan accordingly. Whereas many schools arranging a special khichuri bhog one or two days after the day of Saraswati puja.
/so if you are planning or organizing such Saraswati puja bhog menu then you need to pick some food items from this list. Without including these food items, your menu will be incomplete.
10 amazing Saraswati puja special food items
Khichdi/khichuri
Without khichuri, Bengali people can not imagine any puja bhog. Is this not true? Khichuri is almost inseparable food item of the puja bhog and here Saraswati puja is not an exception. It is often served with various niramish side dish and most people love that.
Basanti pulao
But khichuri is not a compulsory or mandatory food item because many people also love to have Bengali style baanti pulao in any puja bhog. Did you ever try it? It is very delicious and sweet in taste. I often make it at home without any occasion because it is very easy to make. As it is a niramish item and many people prefer it in any puja bhog menu. So it can be included in Saraswati puja special food menu.
Badhakopi ghonto
Sarswati is not held in the late winter and during this period badhakopi is very popular. You can buy fresh cabbage (badhakopi) at a very low price. Most importantly badhakopi ghonto is very delicious when it is served with Bengali style khichdi. It is almost unbeatable in taste along with khichdi.
Labra/mixed niramish tarkari
The Saraswati puja is normally held in the month of January & February. During this season, the local vegetable market is filled with plenty of fresh seasonal vegetables. People often get confused about what to buy and whatnot. So the best idea is purchase some fresh seasonal vegetables and make something healthy. Labra (or Bengali style mixed niramish tarkari) is a popular mixed veg curry what almost every Bengali love.
Palong/pui shak ghonto
Many people love leafy vegetables with khichdi. It absolutely depends upon personal choice. Those leafy vegetable curries are also very delicious and those become more enjoyable when those are served with khichdi as a part of Saraswati puja bhog. Palong (spinach) & pui (malabar spinach) are the most popular leafy vegetables in this region.
Niramish dum aloo
Somebody simply can not enjoy khichdi as well as baanti pulao without niramish dum aloo. Niramish aloor dum is common & popular throughout the year. Everybody like this food item and often prepared for the puja bhog for distributing to the devotees or common public.
Beguni/Crispy brinjal fritters
This is another item what people will prefer to have with khichdi as well as basanti pulao. Beguni (crispy brinjal fritter) or baingan pakoda is a very popular snack in West Bengal & Bangladesh. People do not need any occasion for having this.
Paneer rezala curry
I love to have this paneer rezala curry with basanti pulao. If you are planning to include basanti pulao then you should consider paneer rezala curry. It is a special Bengali dish what it is not regularly prepared. So on such a special day, you should consider it as a food item for Saraswati puja bhog.
Mixed fruit chutney
Without a sweet dish, any puja bhog is incomplete. There are multiple delicious options in chutney dishes. But mixed fruit chutney is something that most people will enjoy. Though tomato chutney is the most common & popular chutney in Bengali cuisine. But this mixed fruit chutney will be enjoyable on this special day.
Payesh
Payesh (rice pudding) is the most traditional sweet dish what is prepared at any special Bengali festival. It is considered as very auspicious. Most importantly, every Bengali people love this sweet dish.
So which all you want to include in your favorite Saraswati puja bhog? What would be your preferable puja bhog? Which all will be from this list?
Leave a Reply