Ghoti and Bangal – Lakshmi Puja bhog traditions across borders

Lakshmi Puja, like any other festival in India, has an age-old connection with food, though culinary and ritualistic traditions associated with it differ from region to region. “Lakshmi Puja was more prevalent among Opar Bangla (

Bangal

) people before Epar Bangla (

Ghoti

) people started celebrating it. Now Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is being celebrated by everyone across borders. The people of East Bengal offer jora ilish to the goddess on this day. After that, they don’t have hilsa till Saraswati Puja. Other than that, niramish bhog (without garlic and onion), luchi, five types of seasonal vegetables and payesh are also offered,” food historian Pritha Sen told us.
Interestingly, Ghoti households worship Laksmi idols while Bangal households worship Lakshmi shora or paut. “Naru, moya, murki, khoi, nimki are offered to Ma Lakshmi apart from

khichuri

, luchi, labda, five types of vegetable fries, chutney and payesh on this day. Khirer mishti is also a must in Ghoti households on this day,” said food blogger

Poorna Banerjee

.

Adds food curator Argha Sen, “While khichuri, labra, beguni, paanch rokom bhaja, chutney, gurer payesh, mowa, murki are typical Puja offerings in Ghoti households, hilsa is the sole preserve of the Bangals.”
At actress Pallavi Chatterjee’s house, sinni is a must on Lakshmi Puja. “I’ve been performing the Puja for 21 years now and follow the rituals my mother used to follow. We offer niramish khichuri bhog along with luchi, labra, channar dalna, chutney and payesh to the goddess,” she said.
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