Pujo Bhog, Community Lunch, Durga Puja
One of the most attractive and unique activity of Durga Puja is participating in bhog, community lunch organized by the Puja committee. While Puja and chanting of prayers is on and the idols are being worshiped, at the other corner of the mandap a group of cooks is busy preparing bhog.
What is bhog?
Bhog translates to experience. It can be used to express the experience of pleasure, sorrow, difficulties and more. But for Bengalis, the word bhog would mean the community lunch after the puja rituals are over.
Bhog is first served to Goddess and hence that name. This then becomes prasad. This is then served to all devotees during lunch and is popularly called bhog. Difference between bhog and prasad is that the bhog is a blessed food that doubles up as a complete meal while prasad would be in smaller quantity and not a complete meal.
Bhog Preparation Durga Pujo Bangalore
While bhog on Durga Puja is purely vegetarian, the bhog in Kali Pujo is different with a non veg item, niramish mangsho. Read here – Bhoot Chaturdashi and Kali Pujo of Bengalis
Pujo Bhog, Community Lunch
The bhog offered during the puja includes an assortment of dishes and sweets such as Khichuri, Pulao. This is accompanied with a variety of Bhajas (frys), Kalai Daler Bari, Masala Bari. And for desserts there are Rosogulla, Doi, Payesh, Jibhe Gaja and Narkel Sandesh.
Main item prepared in large quantity is khichuri, a preparation of rice and lentils with masalas. It tastes heavenly! The other items served along with khichuri are mixed vegetable curry, couple of vegetable fries, sweet and sour tomato chutney. Finally, one sweet dish is given which is usually rosogulla.
See –> How to eat a rasgulla the correct way.
Bhog Preparation Durga Pujo
Bhog and Adda during Pujo
Friends wait patiently for the bhog to be served, while carrying on with their adda. I never miss the bhog. It is fun to watch friends catching up. Friends from different corners of city meet during this yearly festival, they catch up with latest gossips.
Common topic is often praising one another’s new outfits. Women especially, are keen to see what new jewelries their friends have made. One gets the opinion that gold price is hardly a concern. Designs and designers are hot topics of discussion. Well, I too am a keen participant of the above mentioned activities. And all this over a hot plate of khichuri.
Bhog distribution Durga Pujo
Bhog Durga Pujo
Mahasaptami is over, just two days of Puja is left and then it will be time to bid goodbye to Ma!
Goddess Durga
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Nothing like the great Indian food to get your taste buds alive! Yum!
I jus luv luv luv bengali food! Tht begali-fish, aloo curry made in mustard… the aroma is in itself yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
Hello
First time here. Just chanced upon it. I spent the first fifteen years of my life in Kolkata and other parts of Bengal, so I can really understand Bhog, kichuri etc.. After so many years now that I am not in Bengal these few Pujo days make my life as I go to that one Pujo Pandal in my town and relive my Bengal experiences..!!!
delicious fare
Interesting reading and well captured photos. I'd like to taste the food;)
it looks tempting.
i love the different flavors you have when you eat Indian foods.
sorry for not visiting lately,
have been busy.
a very informative and interesting post Indrani. ^0^
Some serious muscle is going into that meal!
One of my favourite festivals! Happy Dussera to you and your loved ones.
Have been seeing Bhog mentioned all over facebook n twitter by friends, but now iknow what it is.., very nice.. and am totally fascsinated with the whole durga puja and pandals….
Beautiful, I like the colors and details of those beautiful pictures. Tasty food.
How interesting to learn a little more about your part of the world ! I love Indian food and this looks delicious !
Wonderful shots of bhog preperation! And the food looks so good. Another yummy post!
What a lovely tradition!
Thanks for the informative post Indira! There is so much to learn while reading these blogs. Too much for a lifetime. And so much to see too! I like the diversity of all those blogs!
Indrani you make me so hungry I am salivating. That really looks mouthwatering and I adore Indian food. What a contrast to your European posts!
Thank you for this absolute treat of a post.
Thru this meme and your post, I learn different cultures without traveling.
Those huge vats could feed a whole army.
The last photo is pretty!
Wonderful shots of festival.
Wonderful photos! The bhog looks most delicious!
we go to the temple and eat. we don't serve, but are always invited. great food at the puja.
Now I have a craving for rice. Must cook some today!
I enjoyed this post very much, Indrani. I love the idea of a community meal. That first photo is great. It would be a hard job for a woman!
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel
Enticing..!
Sounds like a wonderful festival! The food looks and sounds wonderful!
Boy that looks good!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
It is nice to learn new and interesting traditions. The food does look yummy! Thanks for sharing your world, great photos.
That food is tantalizing, um yum yummy.
Fascinating post and wonderful shots.
Thank you Sylvia, I am so glad you liked this post.
Thanks a lot Anya for liking this post. Yes, masala means spices, I have added a link now. 🙂
Love your world Indrani.
I wish i could tast that food
it looks sooooooooooooo different like ours :))
(I can the words rice and lentils
we say ( rijst en linzen ) but masalas ????
(I think masalas
is a spice mixture ??
I was googling google google …)
haha….
🙂
Another marvelous and fascinating post, Indrani, and I get to learn still more about your country — and that's the best part! Terrific, colorful captures for the day! And, I'm suddenly very hungry!! Hope your week is off to a great start!
Sylvia