Importance of Jaggery Kheer in Chhath Puja, Rules, Benefits

Learn Importance of Jaggery Kheer in Chhath Puja with recipe

Chhath Puja or Chhath is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in the Indian subcontinent. Millions of people all across the globe gather on this auspicious occasion to celebrate the 4-day festival. It is extremely popular in the Northern Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and also in Nepal. 

Thousands of people across other Indian states and other countries also celebrate this occasion. One thing that makes Chhath truly special for devotees is the food and the prasad served after the ritual. The Jaggery Kheer or Rasiyaw is a delicious food served as a prasad in Chhath Puja. Continue reading to learn the importance of jaggery kheer in Chhath Puja festival and rituals related to this prasad. 

Importance of Jaggery Kheer in Chhath Puja

As mentioned earlier, Chhath Puja is a 4-day festival. This festival begins four days after the most widely celebrated Diwali festival. The first day of the puja is called “Nahay Khay” in which devotees take a dip in the holy river and carry the holy water at home for preparing offerings.  

The devotees fast on the second day of the puja, which is called “Kharna or Lohanda”. They fast throughout the day. The fast ends with the sunset and then the devotees prepare the world-famous Jaggery Kheer. Different people follow a different jaggery kheer recipe to prepare the prasad. They prepare Rasiyaw-roti and Jaggery Kheer and serve them to the deity.

All the devotees consume the prasad and then begins a 36-hour-long fast without water. The puja continues with the Sandhya Arghya on the third day and Bihaniya Arghya on the fourth day. All the devotees offer prayers and the prasad to the Sun and that’s how the festival completes. 

Jaggery Kheer Recipe

The Gud Kheer or Jaggery Kheer is one of the most delicious dishes prepared during the Chhath puja. This prasad allures millions of devotees during the Chath festival and it is also a healthier alternative to regular Kheer. The Jaggery Kheer recipe is as follows:

Ingredients: You need Jaggery powder or finely grated jaggery, rice, 1 litre milk, Ghee, and cardamon powder. 

Method:

• Take one cup of water in a clean pan and add jaggery. Boil it until the jaggery is melted completely and you get its syrup. 
• Strain the syrup until you get a smooth blend. 
• Now, wash the rice and put it in a pressure cooker along with jaggery. Pressure cook both items for at least four whistles. 
• Let the cooker cool, open the lid, and then slightly mash the rice. 
• Now, you have to add milk to the rice jaggery mix. Blend all those items until you get a consistency like a kheer. 
• Pour 2 tsp of Ghee into another pan and put your favourite dry fruits in the pan. Roast those dry fruits for the next 5 minutes. 
• Mix roasted dry fruits and cardamon powder into the kheer blend. 
• Blend all items perfectly and give a boil to the kheer. 

Your kheer is ready for the prasad. All the family members will admire the taste of the kheer if you prepare it with the recommended recipe. 

Benefits of the Jaggery Kheer

Why do devotees prepare the Jaggery Kheer for Prasad in Chhath puja? It is offered as a prasad to Surya Devta (Sun). It is not just the ritual because this Kheer also benefits the devotees. The following benefits make Jaggery Kheer beneficial for all those, who consume it:

• No Weakness: The devotees have to fast for the next 36 hours without water after the Kharna Puja. It can cause weakness and health concerns, but the Jaggery Kheer prevents it. It contains carbohydrates, protein, calcium, iron, and other nutrients, which provide immense energy. 
• Warmth: Devotees worship Surya Devta with the sunrise during the Chath puja. This ritual is performed during the cold hours and harsh winter days can take a toll on devotees. The Jaggery Kheer provides the warmth people need. It keeps the body warm and devotees do not feel too much cold during the fast. 
• Boosts immunity: Immunity gets weaker during the winter season and Chhath Fasting also occurs during the winter season. Jaggery Kheer provides nutrients, such as zinc, iron, selenium, etc. to boost immunity and keep you safe. 
• Helps in suppressing hunger: The famous Gud Kheer also helps devotees in suppressing hunger. It provides fibre, carbohydrates, and iron, which make you feel full for a long time. 

Devotees also claim several other jaggery kheer benefits, which make it an essential food in Chhath Puja. 

Chhath Puja Rules

Every devotee needs to follow the below-given Chhath Puja rules:

• Holy bathing is an integral part of the puja that every devotee must follow. 
• The devotee cannot drink water or eat anything during the 36 hours fast of the puja. 
• The devotee must prepare jaggery roti and kheer along with other prasad items for Surya Devta. 
• It is prohibited to touch Puja items without cleaning hands. 
• Family members should not eat salty items during the puja. 
• The consumption of non-veg food is strictly prohibited during Chhath puja. 
• Devotees participating in Chhath puja should not wear old clothes. 
• Baskets made of bamboo should be used for carrying puja items. 
• It is prohibited to use steel or glass utensils during the four-day Chhath Puja festival. 
• The Chhath Puja prasad should be prepared with pure Ghee. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q: What is the Chhath Puja date in 2023?

A: The Chhath Puja festival start and end date is 17-20 November 2023. 

Q: Who keeps the 36-hour long fast during the Chhath Puja?

A: Women keep fast during the Chhath Puja for Surya Devta and Chhathi Maiya

Q: What is the importance of Chhath Puja?

A: As believed, devotees worship Surya Devta and Chhathi Maiya during the 4-day long festival. It is a way to express gratitude and request blessings for good health, prosperity, and happiness. 

Q: Can men keep fast during the Chhath Puja?

A: Yes, men can also keep a fast during the auspicious Chhath Puja festival. 

Q: What is strictly prohibited during the Chhath Puja festival?

A: Consumption of non-vegetarian foods and salty foods is prohibited during the Chhath Puja festival. 

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Conclusion

The ongoing Chhath Puja festival will end on 20th November. Millions of Hindus have celebrated this holy festival and enjoyed the Jaggery kheer with delicious jaggery roti. Try this kheer’s recipe now if you haven’t gotten an opportunity to taste it. The recommended recipe will certainly force you to have it as often as possible.