Rice to sesame: Must-haves for the harvest festival

The sight of roadside stalls filled with delicacies made from rice, jaggery, and sesame seeds signals the arrival of the harvest festival. Celebrated across India under various names, it brings communities together, winning hearts through traditional treats. CT brings to you the deets on the essential foods that make the celebration special.

The Lohri bonfire
The bonfire ritual during Lohri involves offerings of sesame seeds (til), rewri, peanuts, and popcorn, symbolising gratitude for a bountiful harvest
Where to buy: Jadu Babur Baazar, Bhawanipur market

Poush Sankranti, Bhogali Bihu
Celebrated in Bengal and Assam respectively, both these festivals are marked by a variety of rice-based dishes and pithas. The traditional Bhogali Bihu breakfast includes flattened rice, akhoi, kumol saul or bora saul along with curd, fresh cream, jaggery.
Where to buy: Jadu Babur Baazar, Lake market, Hatibagan, Gariahat market, and Rupohi Haat


Pongal essentials
Pongal is a four-day harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, and shows gratitude towards the forces of natures. Rice, moong dal, jaggery, ghee, dry fruits, fruits and turmeric are some absolute essentials for the festival.
Where to buy: Dakshin Store, Lake Market and Khidderpore

Quotes:
Rewri & gajak are Lohri essentials that people gift to their close ones – Jaspreet Singh, a shop ownerKumol saul & bora saul are difficult to find here, but can be purchased from exhibitions– Orihana Ojah Hatkhowa, vice-president, Kolkata Assamese Cultural Association