A LAVISH FEAST FIT FOR GOD
From Chappan Bhog to Dhaniya Panjiri, we tell you what makes for a delectable platter for Janmashtami
Every year in August, Hindus across the world, celebrate the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu, as Janmashtami. And as is the case with every festival, Janmashtami, too, has its own special connection with food.
“Krishna has a connection with makhan or butter. Butter translates into dairy, so the entire food experience on Janmashtami is around dairy products — especially milk, curd, and butter,” says chef Kunal Kapoor, adding, “Sweet curd or meethi dahi is important during this festival; also anything do with milk. Fasting is observed in many parts of the country. So, vrat ki kheer is quite popular. It’s made of samak ke chawal (jungle rice), milk, sugar and nuts.”
Chappan bhog, a spread of 56 dishes, is also commonly prepared during this festival, as an offering to Krishna, who lifted ‘govardhan parvat’ to protect people from Indra’s wrath. “Krishna missed eight meals for seven days. It comes to 56 bhoga,” ISKCON Dwarka’s preacher, HG
Prashant Mukund Prabhu tells us. The spread includes rice, dal, chutney, kadhi and jalebi, among others. “It is stated that the deity should be bathed in water mixed with yoghurt and milk...,” he says, adding that “later that liquid is drunk by devotees as charnamrit”.
Meanwhile, chef Manjeet Gill adds, “Another delicacy part of chappan bhog is Makhana Paag, prepared using puffed lotus seeds (fox nuts), ghee, milk and bhoora (unrefined sugar),”
Explaining why food plays a huge rule in religious festivals in India, Gill says, “In Hinduism, food is central to creation and life. At a spiritual level, food is divine and worthy of worship. The food we eat should be
At a spiritual level, food is divine and worthy of worship. The food we eat should be prepared with positive energy. The food we offer to gods has the potential to transform our heart. MANJEET GILL CHEF
Krishna has a connection with butter... So the entire food experience on Janmashtami is around dairy products — especially milk, curd, and butter. KUNAL KAPOOR CHEF
prepared with positive energy... The food we offer to gods has the potential to transform our heart,” he says, before sharing a quick and nutritious recipe of Dhaniya Panjiri, a form of prasad prepared during Janmashtami.
“The base of this dish is coriander seeds in the form of a coarse powder and bhoora, to which we add nuts and raisins, ghee, fox nuts and mishri,” he says.