Chhath Puja 2025 : In 2025, Chhath Puja will be celebrated on the 25th of October, beginning with the first day, Nahay-Khay, when the devotee takes a purification bath and prepares simple satvik food for Chhathi Maiya. Lauki bhaat is one of the important traditional dishes on this occasion. This other very important dish is sweet, simple prasad, which is very wholesome and nutritious, and flavorful; it symbolizes the devotee’s devotion, restraint, and yearning to be consecrated by the goddess.
Ingredients Required
To prepare Nahay-Khay-Lauki bhaat, we need approximately 500 g lauki; 1 cup rice; 2 tbsp ghee; 2-3 chopped green chilies; 1 tsp cumin seeds; ½ tsp turmeric powder; sendha namak to taste; and water as required; 1 tbsp for garnishing with chopped fresh coriander. All the ingredients are simple and sattvic enough to match the purity levels required for the ritual.
Preparation Of Rice
First, wash the rice 2-3 times, removing all the starchy water. Into a saucepan, place the washed rice with water. Add the rock salt and boil. Cook on medium flame till soft, till all water gets absorbed. This is how rice is made for Lauki bhat now.
Cooking Of Lauki
Heat about 2 tbsp of ghee in a pan. Fry the cumin seeds. Now add the coarsely minced green chilies and fry for a second. Now add the diced lauki and mix it gently with the soaked chana dal. Add in the turmeric powder and salt, cover, and cook on a low flame for 10-15 minutes, until lauki is soft and all the water evaporates. When done, switch off the flame and garnish with fresh chopped coriander leaves.
Serving And Suggestions
Now piping hot Lauki bhaat for Nahay-Khay is drizzled with ghee. The serving of the prasad was simple yet elaborate and was thought to nourish her deep devotion rendered to Chhathi Maiya. It’s all about keeping with the squeaky-clean sattvic principle, garlic, no onions, and fresh always when it comes to serving the prasad. Cooked on a slow flame so the vegetables and rice retain taste as well as nutrients.
The preparation of Lauki Bhat within the framework of Chhath, therefore, is not only seen as an appeasement but also an arduous effort of the devotee to enter the ritual domain. It is in this ritual domain that this food becomes a prasad medium that spiritually brings together devotees into the very intimacy with the goddess who grants them the bounties of health, prosperity, and worldly happiness.