Janmashtmi Special - All you need to know about the ‘Chhappan Bhog’

The all-powerful, all-knowing and omniscient Lord Krishna once said- “The only way to conquer me, is through love. And through love, I am happily conquered” 

What better way to a man’s heart rather than their favourite meal?! That is what most of the devotees offer the lord Krishna on Janmashtmi, which is supposed to be the day of his birth! 

The Chhappan blog is a meal consisting of 56 food preparations offered to Shri Krishna. It includes a variety of delicious recipes made with pure desi ghee and without onions and garlic. Let’s take a closer look at these 56 dishes and their significance.

Why ‘56’ meals

Let us travel back to the time when the mightly Lord Krishna walked the Earth. We have all heard the legend of how he lifted the Govardhan parvat on his little finger and went without food for a whole week. And Krishna was famous for having eight meals a day! To show their devotion and gratefulness, the villagers offer him 8 * 7 dishes and Lord Krishna enjoyed the giant meal! Want to know more? Keep reading to find out the items in the Chhapan bhog!

BHAKT

Bhakt is our day-to-day rice! Rice is a staple that is served in chhapan bhog.

SOOP

Soop is lentils or Dal, there are many types of lentils served in this feast

PRALEH

Praleh is a chutney that you can make with any herbs including dhaniya, pudina etc!

 

SADIKA

Sadika is a savoury dish that is served in the chhappan bhog. It is a kadhi made from besan and spices to serve with rice.

DADHISAKAJA

A  savoury Kadhi dish that is made of Shaakh 

SIKHRINI

The Sikhrini is a sweet dish made of bhuna aata and yoghurt.

SVALEH

Svaleh is a water-based sweet drink. It is also known as Sharbat

BALKA

This is similar to the bati from dal bati churma. It is dipped in pure ghee while hot.

IKSHU KHERANI

Have you heard of the delicacy called murabba? Ikshu Kherani is the same sweet murabba!

TRIKON

Trikon are triangle-shaped parathas that are made with ghee.

BATAK

Have you had the famous south Indian Vada? That is what batak is!

MADHU SHEERSHAK

Madhu Sheershak is a sweet matthri made from sugar or jaggery. 

PHENIKA

Phenika refers to a set of sweet dishes that are collectively served in chhappan bhog.

PARISHTACCHA

Whole Foods are known as Parishtaccha or Parishtash

SHATPATRA

Also known as Khalja, it is an Indian deep-fried pastry that is filled with fruits and soaked in Sugar syrup. It is flaky and tasty!

SADHIDRAK

Have you tried the mouth-watering sweet dish - Ghevar? Sadhidrak is ghevar made from sugar syrup, flour and ghee!

CHAkRAM

Chakram is a dish known as Malpua. MAlpua is a flour-based batter that is deep-fried and soaked in chashni.

CHILDIKA

Childika is chickpea or chola! This dal is made without any onion, in a tomato-based gravy

SUDHA KUNDALIKA

This is our national sweet dish of India- Jalebi! Made from flour batter and fried and soaked in sugar syrup!

DHRITAPUR

This is also called Mesu. mesu are milk-based sweets

VAYUPUR

Vayupur is our beloved Rasgulla. This can be white, orange or even yellow rasgulla, as long as it is dipped in sugar syrup!

CHANDRAKALA

Chandrakala gets its due to its moon shape. Similar to Gujia, this is a traditional Bihari dessert made from flour and filling of dry fruits and khoa.

DADHI

This is your good old fresh and creamy Dahi, with any added salt!

STHOOLI

Sthooli or thuli is originally an afghan dish for birthdays. It is a traditional Bohra dessert made of cracked wheat, ghee and melted jaggery.

LUANGPURI

Also known as karpoornadi, it is a savoury dish of the 56 bhog.

KHAND MANDAL

Khand Mandal is also known as khurma. Khurma is a piece of fried flour that has been coated with sugar. It’s highly addictive!

GODHUM

Godhum is an old-age daliya, that is eaten with vegetables and Dadhi.

PARIKHA

Parikha is a savoury dish in the chhappan bhog

SUPHALADHAYA

This is a sweet dish or kheer made with Fennel

DADHIROOP

Dadiroop is bilsaru in curd. Bilsaru is fruits cut into star or flower shapes.

MODAK

Everyone’s favourite- Modaks are made from ghee, sooji, khoya and dry fruits. These are the better versions of laddoos!

SHAAKH

Shaakh refers to the preparation of the traditional green saag. 

SAUDHAN

Saudhan is a pickled dish that adds extra flavour to 56 bhog

 

MANDAKA

Mandaka is a traditional south Indian dish serves at 56 bhog

PASAYAAM

Pasayam is a Gujarati kheer that is similar to phirni.

DADHI

This is a raita that contains curd and other condiments.

GOGHRIT

Goghrit is served on the side to eat with rice. It is cow ghee

MAKHAN

Makhan originates from lotus roots and is called lotus seeds. It is a very nutritious nut.

MANDURI

Manduri is the favourite of Lord Krishna! Manduri is another name for cream!

KUPIKA

Kupika is rabri made from milk. The milk is thickened by boiling for a long time along with spices and sugar.

PAPAD

Papad is an Indian condiment that is made of rice, dal, wheat etc. You can fry and bake papad.

SHAKTIKA

A food that aids in digestion

LASIKA

Just like shaktika, lasika aids in digestion. Lasika is Lassi made from dahi

SUKTA

Sukta is a traditional Bengali dish that is made of many vegetables. It is a curry that is served with rice.

SANGHAYA

A part of 56 bhog that is included in sweets

SUPHALA

A type of fruit that was dear to Lord Krishna

ELAICHI

Elaichi or cardamom is one of the whole spices that is served in 56 bhog.

PHAL

Phal is an umbrella term for fruit. This can include any fruit.

PAN

This is an Indian snack that is made by using Pan Patta and other edibles.

MOHAN BHOG

Made from besan and milk, Mohan bhog is a traditional Bengali sweet.

LAVAN

Lavan is what we call today - a chaach. This is made using milk.

KASHAYA

Also known as Kashayam, it is a sweet powder that has ayurvedic properties

MADHUR

Madhur is an umbrella term for sweets in India.

TIKT

A type of sweet consumed by Lord Krishna 

KATTU

This is the Kattuyanam rice that is indigenous to South India. 

AMLA

Amla ka murabba is a sweet that is even famous to date!

Try some of this Chhappan bhog this Janmashtmi!