Diwali 2022: Why are Kheel Batasha offered to the deities for Diwali Puja?

Diwali is the most popular festival in India and the one thing that’s in abundance during this time is the ‘sweets’. From Laddoos to Kheer and Malpua, people make a lot of sweet dishes on Diwali. But, after all this, there are two things without which the Diwali Puja is said to be incomplete. It’s none other than Kheel and Batasha.

It’s a traditional sweet that was often used in ancient times instead of a sweet dish. One can commonly find this combination in religious places such as temples and on festive occasions such as Diwali. If you are wondering what Kheel is then let us tell you, it is nothing else but the puffed rice that’s made by heating rice kernels on high temperature in either sand or salt. Sometimes, Kheel is also fried in oil. While Batasha is made by boiling sugar with water till it reaches a thick consistency, which is later on shaped like a coin.

During the Lakshmi Puja, Kheel Batashe is offered to the deity as a token of respect. In ancient India, rice or paddy was the most commonly grown crop that lasted the whole year. It is around Diwali that the rice crop is harvested by the farmers and thus, in order to thank Maa Lakshmi who showers her blessings on the farmers throughout the year, they used to make Kheel Batasha from the very first batch of harvested rice to offer to the goddess. By doing so, it is said that Maa Lakshmi showers wealth, prosperity, and health on her devotees.

It is a festival that’s synonymous with health, wealth and prosperity and the planet that’s associated with wealth and prosperity is Shukra graha or Venus. In Vedic Astrology, this planet is associated with Goddess Lakshmi and this is the only reason why we worship Maa Lakshmi on Fridays. Offering Kheel Batashe to Maa Lakshmi on Diwali is said to make the planet happy. And if the planet Venus is happy then we believe it will make Goddess Lakshmi happy as well and she will shower wealth and prosperity on her devotees.

Now, let’s come to the conclusion of why eating Kheel Batashe is considered healthy for everyone during this time. For starters, Khee is rich in carbohydrates and antioxidants and is said to boost your energy. It is also rich in fibre which helps in boosting the digestive health of a person. You will be surprised to know that consuming Kheel mixed in water can help you in lose motion. Also, it is rich in vitamin D and thus can help in easing the pain in bones.

While Batashe is said to increase your metabolism and mental health. Diwali is a time of season change when we feel cold and cough, and it is said that eating Batashe can ease this seasonal cold and cough. Traditionally Batashe was made using palm jaggery and cane jaggery and was a healthier version of what we have now. Also, if you add cow ghee in batashe, it will boost your metabolism. Batashe are also said to improve your mental health. However, diabetics and weight watchers should strictly avoid them.

Disclaimer: This article has taken into account the traditional thought and is not backed by the latest scientific research.