The festival of Janmashtami is here again and people all around the country are welcoming Lord Krishna with all the festive cheer. One of the most widely celebrated festivals of India, Krishna Janmashtami marks the birth of the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu - Lord Krishna - on earth. The 'Janm' in Janmashtami refers to the birth of Lord Krishna. With much fervour and enthusiasm, people celebrate Janmashtami to welcome their beloved Nanhe Gopal, who is known to have 108 names that include Govind, Kanhaiya, Nandlal, Brijesh, Manmohan, Balgopal, Murli Manohar and many more. The festival that is set to be celebrated on 18th and 19th August, 2022 is closely associated with food since Lord Krishna was said to be extremely fond of eating, especially when it came to sweets. Have you not heard his mischievous tales of feasting on Makhan Mishri? It is a dish quintessential to Janmashtami celebrations!
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To celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna, people install the idols of baby Krishna at home on the day of Janmashtami, bathe them in milk, honey and water, dress them in new bright clothes, and prepare a 56 bhog thali as an offering to the deity. Many people observe fasts (vrat) on the day in devotion that they break at midnight, since it is believed to be the time when Lord Krishna was born. Many communities organise cultural programmes, including dance-drama events like rasa leela or Krishna leela.
The 56 bhog offering is a generous offering to Krishna that consists of 56 food items, hence known as 'Chappan Bhog'. As history has it, the bhog consists of Lord Krishna's favourite dishes and usually includes cereal, fruits, dry fruits, sweets, drinks, namkeen and pickles. All of it is first offered to Krishna and then distributed between his devotees.
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While there are many dishes that you can include in chappan bhog, we've got you four of the most popular Janmashtami recipes to prepare at home and offer to Lord Krishna.
Janmashtmi 2022: 4 Dishes That Can Be A Part Of Your Chappan Bhog Thali
1. Panchamrit/Charnamrit
Panchamrit is nectar that is offered to deities on various festivals and pujas in Hindu culture and is distributed as prasad after the offering. It is made with panch or five ingredients that include boiled milk, sugar, curd, ghee and honey that are simply stirred together. Many people also add a few tulsi leaves to it. Here is an easy and super quick panchamrit recipe that you can prepare at home, by famous YouTube chef Alpa Modi, shared on her channel 'Something's Cooking With Alpa'.
2. Aloo Puri
A hearty yet simple North Indian meal that you can prepare for lunch or even breakfast and also include in the chappan bhog thali. Puris are Indian breads made of whole wheat flour, semolina, carom seeds and salt, deep fried in oil. These are served with flavourful gravy of potatoes simmered in a host of spices like cumin, asafoetida, turmeric, coriander, fennel, aamchoor, garam masala, etc. Here is a delicious recipe of aloo puri by famous YouTube chef Manjula Jain on her YouTube channel 'Manjula's Kitchen'.
3. Mohan Bhog
A very popular Indian dessert, Mohan Bhog isn't just a popular North Indian dish but is also loved in the Bengali cuisine. Made with roasted semolina that is combined with boiled milk cooked along with bay leaf, cardamom, saffron and sugar till they come together in a mass. Topped with raisins and cashews, here is an easy Mohan Bhog recipe for you to prepare at home by Mumbai-based blogger Ananya Banerjee on her YouTube Channel 'Chef Ananya Banerjee'.
4. Sabudana Kheer
The classic Indian dessert, kheer is one of the quintessential dishes to prepare for every celebratory occasion in India. The luscious, creamy dessert is one of the most loved and why not! A simple combination of rice/vermicelli/tapioca with milk, sugar and cardamom, this is a heart-warming one to miss! Here is a kheer recipe made with sabudana flavoured with saffron and pistachio for the festival of Janmashtami that you can prepare at home. This easy and quick kheer recipe is by famous YouTube chef Manjula Jain on her YouTube channel 'Manjula's Kitchen'.
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Prepare and offer these delectable recipes in your chappan bhog and let us know how you liked it!