Durga Puja connects divinity and people with emotions that beat in hundreds of hearts. As Maa Durga is welcomed in pandals and homes, there is an enthusiasm, fervour and immense devotion that is palpable and manifested in myriad ways. From prayers, traditions, dance, music, culture and cuisine, the essence and spirit of the festival light up cities and towns like never before. Though there is a lot that can be highlighted, let us focus on the top traditional dishes West Bengal that are prepared during Durga Puja. Ranging from sweets to savouries, these dishes not only delight the palate but are also the flagbearers of heritage, bonhomie and good times.
Top Ten Tasty Bengali Dishes of Durga Puja
Interestingly, traditional and cultural foods are usually simple, heartwarming and nourishing. Their flavours and aromas are memories that stay long after the dish has been devoured. From using local ingredients and traditional cooking methods to enjoying hearty meals with family and friends, these dishes are an important part of celebrations during not only Durga Puja, but also any other Indian festival.
So, here are the top ten Bengali dishes that are integral to Durga Puja and are prepared and enjoyed immensely.
| Bengali Dishes | Speciality |
|---|---|
| Bhoger Khichuri | A festive rice and lentil dish served as bhog to Maa Durga, cooked with dals, vegetables, spices, and ghee, offering warmth and divinity. |
| Aloor Dum | Spicy and rich potato curry, a comforting favorite during Puja, especially relished with soft luchis. |
| Luchi | Fluffy deep-fried bread, often paired with aloor dum or sweets, an indispensable partner in festive feasts. |
| Labra Sabji | A wholesome mixed vegetable curry, stewed with seasonal veggies and spices, usually paired with khichuri as bhog. |
| Beguni | Crispy fried brinjal slices coated in batter, a light and crunchy side dish loved at pandals and gatherings. |
| Ilish Shorshe | Hilsa fish cooked in mustard gravy, an iconic Bengali delicacy; vegetarians use banana pith with the same mustard-rich recipe. |
| Kosha Mangsho | Slow-cooked mutton curry bursting with spices and aroma, a festive non-vegetarian delicacy savored with rice or luchi. |
| Mishti Pulao | Sweet and savory rice dish with dry fruits, sugar, and spices, balancing flavors beautifully in festive meals. |
| Sandesh | Classic Bengali sweet made with chhena, shaped into various forms; elegant, nutritious, and symbolic of Bengali pride. |
| Chholar Dal | Chana dal cooked with coconut, raisins, and spices like cinnamon and cardamom; thick, rich, and paired with luchi or kochuri. |
1. Bhoger Khichur
Who would have thought that the list of festive cuisine would start off with the most basic of all dishes- Kichdi. Nonetheless, it is one of the most loved and essential dishes that are prepared during Durga Puja. The kichdi or kichuri is served as ‘bhog’ or offering to the Goddess, and hence every home has its own special way of preparing it. Rice mixed with different dals, vegetables, spices and ghee, can any other dish beat this soulful, warm and mouthwatering experience?
2. Aloor Dum
Aloo Dum is another popular dish that is enjoyed all throughout the year. However, during Durga Puja, this rich and spicy potato curry is a comforting and lip-smacking entity, especially when combined with soft Luchis. Wrapped in simplicity and deliciousness, this dish elevates the potato to new heights.
3. Luchi
Next up is Luchi, the perfect partner that goes hand in hand with the Aloo Dum. Fluffy and soft, Luchis are what people in other parts of the county call ‘puri.’ These fried round breads can also be eaten alongside any other vegetable or non-vegetarian curry. Or, as many Bengalis like it, the luchi can be munched on with a bit of sugar or just by itself.
4. Labra Sabji
A wholesome vegetable curry, Labra brings together a pot full of fresh seasonal veggies stewed and cooked in spices. Labra too is often offered to the Goddess with the kichdi. A divine combination, labra and kichudi can work quite a magic.
5. Beguni
Another simple, yet mind-blowingly delicious dish, Beguni is fried slices of eggplant or brinjal. Often cut into round pieces, the brinjal is fried with spices or sometimes coated with besan batter. Either way, it tastes yummy and is a great side dish with main courses, such as rice and dal. Crunchy, crispy and light, this snack is an essential at any pandal, adda or family gathering.
6. Ilish Shorshe
How can any Bengali festival be complete without a fish dish! The Ilish Shorshe, or the famous Hilsa fish, is cooked with mustard gravy, creating one of the most iconic Bengali dishes. For vegetarians, instead of fish, banana pith is used as the main ingredient. The spices, marination and way of preparation remain the same. Delicious, luscious, and dripping in flavour, this dish will leave you asking for more.
7. Kosha Mangsho
For non-vegetarians, the Kosha Mangsho is the go-to dish for a gluttonous and gourmandising experience. The mutton cooked on a low flame with spices oozes insane flavours and aromas. Simple to cook, but elaborate in taste, is a testimony that ‘good things come to those who wait.’ The longer the mutton is cooked, the more delicious and relishing the taste is.
8. Mishti Pulao
Bengalis cannot do without mishti. Frankly, the world needs a little sweetness, even in sour situations. Mishti Pulao may sound like the juxtaposition of opposite mouthfuls; however, it is the blending of differing sensations that makes this dish exceptional and unique. Made from rice, dry fruits and sugar, this sweet rice dish also has a generous quantity of spices. Sweet, yet savoury, there is a lot going on here, but there is no doubt that your palate and senses will thank you for trying it out.
9. Sandesh
Last but not least, the quintessential Sandesh makes it to the list of traditional dishes for Durga Puja. And why not! Sandesh is the pride of Bengalis and a distinct dish that is almost like a postcard recognition of the culture and its people. Classic and elegant, this sweet dish is the all-time and any-time favourite of not Bengalis, but people across the world. Made from chenna (paneer), it is nutritious and highly delicious. In different shapes, sizes and colours, the Sandesh will win you over for sure.
10.Cholar Dal
Chholar Dal is a festive Bengali delicacy prepared with chana dal (Bengal gram lentils), simmered until soft and flavored with a tempering of ghee, whole spices, and sometimes a hint of sugar for a mild sweetness. What makes it unique is the addition of grated coconut, raisins, and aromatic spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and bay leaf, which give the dish its rich and celebratory flavor.
During Durga Puja, Chholar Dal is almost always paired with luchi (deep-fried bread) or kochuri, making it a signature item in bhog as well as festive feasts. The dal is thicker and more indulgent compared to everyday lentil dishes, embodying the warmth and abundance of the festival.
Significance of Traditional Foods in Durga Puja
Traditional dishes are an integral part of the festivities of Durga Puja. The homecoming of Maa Durga is not celebrated with exotic and upscale dishes. But with soul-stirring and gratifying food. Wholesome and healthful, these dishes are made from local and seasonal ingredients, highlighting the spices, fragrance and flavours of the community and place. There is no fanfare or elaborate showcasing of culinary standards. On the other hand, it is the simplistic elegance, grace and connection that these traditional dishes make with each other and with those who consume them, that makes it all so special.
Either it is the bhog or prasad to the Goddess or the clatter and clamour of a table full of laughter and stories. Whether it is the warmth of a plate amongst friends while pandal preparations, or the quick bite of smacking street foods during pandal hopping. Dishes and traditional foods are hence more than just fuel for the seamless enjoyment of the festival. It is an essential and one of the most loved aspects of a celebration that honours the Goddess, while spreading bliss and happiness.
