On the eve of Saraswati Puja, devotees traditionally prepare a yellow-coloured prasad for the Goddess of Knowledge. The offering can vary from Kolkata's Bhoger Khichuri to Motichoor Ladoos -- each region having their own sacred bhog, but always something yellow, the goddess' fave rang.
The Bengalis have their own special variety of spicy-sweet tomato chutney usually had at the end of a meal.
Satvik food is de rigueur this time of the year in most Western and Northern Indian homes, say chefs and food historians Arundhuti Dasgupta and Shally Seth Mohile.
Mahalaya, though essentially about the goddess, wasn't religious for us. And it isn't for most Bengalis. Mahalaya is an emotion. It's gooseflesh for a memory. A welling up of happy tears. A celebration of what is to come.
An encyclopedia to the best Durga Pujo eating.
'Durga Puja is also a time to catch up on the gossip and when the girls of the family get together it's a beautiful feeling that is hard to describe.'
'They say when they come in front of me they feel happy and like they are not sick.' 'As long as I am alive, I will do this work.'
In the second of a two-part festive recipe series, we bring you traditional Bengali preparations to help celebrate Durga Puja.
The plum chutney bring depth of flavour to this dish.
We bring you three delicious recipes to add some cheer to a dull, boring rainy day.
Every home across India makes khichdi and it still isn't as celebrated as it should be.
Chitrita Banerji's new book, Bengali Cooking, takes readers into the kitchens of West Bengal and Bangladesh through the changing seasons. And if it starts to rain, nothing matters more to the Bengali palate than the hilsa fish and the many ways it can be consumed.
Indrani Roy shares 4 traditional Bengali preparations for the festive season. You can share yours too!
Navratri celebrations in Chennai are not only about Golu dolls, Saraswathi Puja or Ayudha Puja. These days, Durga Puja and Dandiya Raas too are regular events in the city, reports S Saraswathi.
The charm of Kolkata is still alive says Sumit Ganguli.
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