New Delhi: Kali Puja falls on Sunday, November 8, this year, on the same day as Diwali. Devotees in West Bengal, Assam and Odisha mark it after Durga Puja,
worshipping Goddess Kali at midnight with rituals and offerings. As with Diwali, food is central to the occasion, and families usually cook a festive spread to offer as bhog and to share with neighbours. Bengali homes have a set of dishes that turn up every year, from simple khichuri and mixed vegetables to rich biryani, pulao and desserts.
Some are served as sacred offerings, while others are cooked mainly for the family table. If you are planning to offer bhog for your own celebration or wondering what to send across to friends, this list of traditional Bengali dishes is a good place to begin. Check out the dishes and what goes into each one below.
Traditional Bengali bhog for Kali Puja
Bengali khichuri
This mild, comforting dish is cooked with fragrant Gobindobhog rice and yellow moong dal, also called shonamuk dal. Ginger, green chillies and seasonal vegetables go into the pot, and the spicing is kept light.
Mixed vegetable or labra
Labra is a mixed vegetable dish that brings together cauliflower, potato, pumpkin, radish, carrot and peas. It is seasoned lightly, then topped with grated coconut and a little sugar before serving.
Niramish pathar mangsho
In certain household and community traditions, Goddess Kali is offered a sacrificial mutton curry known as pathar mangsho. It is made in the niramish style, which means no onion or garlic is used. Ginger, yoghurt and whole spices give the curry its flavour.
Chhanar payesh
This slow-cooked pudding is made with rice or cottage cheese and full-cream milk. Cardamom and dry fruits are added to finish it.
Fish curries
Freshwater fish is a regular part of festive cooking in many Bengali households. Rui kalia and katla kalia are common choices, while some families prefer a lighter fish jhol.
Bengali mutton biryani
This biryani follows the Kolkata style, with long-grain Basmati rice and mutton cooked slowly until tender. A boiled and fried potato sits in the pot, and kewra, rose water and ghee add a gentle sweet aroma.
Basanti pulao
Also known as mishti pulao, this yellow rice dish is mildly sweet and is prepared as a festive bhog during Kali Puja and Durga Puja. Short-grain Gobindobhog rice is cooked with ghee, cashews, raisins and whole spices.
Kali Puja is as much about sharing food as it is about worship, and these dishes are a big part of that. Cooking these traditional bhog at home keeps the festival’s traditions alive for the next generation and ward off the negativity, offering strength.
