Poila Boishakh... the Bengali New Year. All the Bengalis celebrate this day with new dress, a traditional puja and obviously a lavish feast - the most inevitable part of any Bengali celebration ! They treat themselves in a royal way to ensure prosperity all along the year. Like all other festivals, the day is observed by visiting relatives, friends and neighbours. Culture and festivity are always go hand in hand in Bengali life. So, a numerous cultural shows are organised in the day - be it in a Para Pandal (the small stage in the neighbourhood locality) or the Barsho-Baron (Welcome the New Year) show in the television.
In this modern age, people really have very limited time in their hand and even lesser interest for household work. Therefore, although people love to have traditional bengali meal on this day, they prefer going to restaurant. Who wants to waste time and energy in the kitchen - as they say. And there is no reason to be disappointed - lots of restaurants - the 5 Starred or the regular ones- all offer "Poila Boishakh er bhuribhoj" (the Grand feast of the Bengali new year) with all the traditional recipes from the recipe book of your grandmother or the great grandmother !
But there are people like me too who like to prepare the meal by her own especially on such auspicious occasion. I can visit Oh! Calcutta or Bhajohori Manna on any other day in the year, but on Poila Boishakh I would love to cook all such dishes in my own kitchen. This year too, I prepared a grand menu on the day. I thought that can be a good suggestion for those who keep searching on the internet for the traditional bengali menu option since 4-5 days prior to the gala day.
Here is the menu:
- Bhaat (Steamed Rice)
- Shukto (Bitter mixed vegetables curry)
- Bhaja Mug er daal (Dry roasted Mung Daal)
- Maccher pur vora Patol er dolma (Pointed Gourd filled with ground fish stuffing)
- Mochar Ghanto (Banana Flower dry curry)
- Chhanar Kaliya (Bengal Cottage Cheese ball in a tomato gravy)
- Enchor Chingri (Raw Jack fruit curry with prawn)
- Rui Posto (Rohu Fish in poppy seed paste)
- Chicken Rezzala
- Chatni (Chutney)
- Bhapa doi (Steamed yogurt)
- Kalakand
Isn't it a great menu idea? You may try it on the next poila boishakh. I am sure you family members will love the New Year Lunch at home and from that year onward, they will prefer not to go to restaurant for such an excellent experience.
** The recipe for the above items will follow soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment