Importance of Chhath Puja and traditional sweets
New Delhi: As the festival of Chhath Puja approaches, preparations for making various types of dishes and prasad begin in homes. Thekua, kheer and especially kasar laddus are prepared on this occasion. These laddus have special significance in Bihar and Purvanchal. These laddus made of rice, jaggery, desi ghee and dry fruits are amazing in taste. The special thing is that they are also made on the third day of Chhath Puja, at the time of evening Arghya.
Religious belief of making Kasar Laddus
Why are Kasar laddus made from new crop rice?
The tradition of making Kasar laddus is linked to religious beliefs. According to belief, the grains obtained from the new crop are first offered to God. Under this tradition, these laddus are prepared from new rice and jaggery and offered as Prasad to Chhathi Maiya.
Ingredients for making Kasar Laddu
The tradition of making Kasar Laddus has been going on for generations in many families of Bihar and Purvanchal. To make these at home, the following ingredients are required: 1 cup roasted rice flour, half cup jaggery, half cup desi ghee, half cup fennel, one-fourth cup grated coconut, 2 tablespoons cashews, 2 tablespoons raisins, half teaspoon cardamom powder and one-fourth cup water. First of all prepare jaggery syrup.
Method of making jaggery syrup
prepare jaggery syrup
Put jaggery and water in a small pan and heat it on low flame. Keep stirring until the jaggery melts completely. When a string starts forming in the syrup, turn off the gas.
Process of making laddu
Mix dry fruits and jaggery syrup in rice flour
Mix dry fruits with rice flour. Take roasted rice flour in a big plate or plate. Add grated coconut, cashew nuts, raisins and cardamom powder to it and mix well. Then add fennel and desi ghee to it. Mix all the ingredients well so that the ghee spreads evenly throughout the mixture. Now add jaggery syrup little by little. Keep in mind that do not add the syrup all at once, this will make it easier to tie the mixture into laddus.
Laddu size and storage
Make laddus by giving them round shape
When the mixture is mixed well, take a small amount in your hands and give it a round shape. Similarly, prepare small laddus from the entire mixture. If the mixture becomes too wet, you can add some more rice flour to it. One special thing about Kasar laddus is that they can be prepared in advance. After cooling the prepared laddus, keep them in a clean and dry airtight container. This makes it easier to maintain them. This traditional Prasad prepared on the occasion of Chhath Puja not only tastes good but also reminds us of our old culture and traditions. The sweetness of jaggery, the aroma of fennel and the local taste of rice make Kasar Laddus a special sweet of the festival.