Dodhikarma for Saraswati Puja
By Barnali Dutta | January 29, 2015
The Saraswati puja is never finished without the traditional preparation of the distinctive sweet concoction known as Dodhikarma, which is offered to the Goddess in the morning on the day of immersion. While the priest conducts the religious services, delectable curd, popped rice, dairy delicacies, and juicy bananas are offered. After being combined together these ingredients form the delicious “Dodhikarma,” which is then distributed as the puja’s prasad.
In Bengal, Saraswati Puja is a very significant celebration, especially for young people and students. From the early morning call of the cuckoo announcing the festival day to the cool sensation on one’s palm while receiving the Dodhikarma prasad, the entire experience remains memorable year after year.
There is a special relationship that Bengal enjoys with curd.
Dodhikarma – Puja prasad
Dodhimangal – Marriage ritual
Dodhichira – Chaitanya Danda Mahotsav
I am a believer in low-fat breakfasts on working days and a little curd at the end of it for a calm and balanced day. Curd helps the digestive system remain comfortable and cool. Perhaps the tradition of applying curd tilak on the forehead after tasting a spoonful on auspicious days emerged from this belief.
4.5 stars based on 155 reviews | Serving size: 2 tbsp | Calories per serving: 210
Prep time: 10 min | Cook time: 5 min | Total time: 15 min | Yield: 2 tbsp
Ingredients
- Popped rice: 2 cups
- Ripe banana, mashed: 1/4 cup
- Fresh cottage cheese sweets: 1/4 cup
- Sweet popped rice (optional): 1/4 cup
- Shredded coconut (optional): 1/4 cup
- Sweet curd: 1/4 cup
- Sweet basil leaves: 4
- Honey: 2 tsp
- Salt: one pinch
- Diced seasonal fruits or dry fruits (optional): 1/2 cup
Directions
- Mix popped rice (khoi āĻāĻ), sweet popped rice (murki āĻŽুā§āĻি), fresh Bengali sweet (sandesh), sweet curd (mishti doi), basil leaves, ripe banana, coconut if using, honey and a pinch of salt. Serve immediately.
- Traditionally parched rice (muri āĻŽুā§ি) or washed beaten rice (chira āĻিā§া) may also be added. Seasonal fruits, sugar or honey can be mixed for puja offerings. This easy Bengali breakfast cereal can easily rival modern cereal bowls with its taste and nutrition.
āĻĻāĻ§িāĻāĻ°āĻŽ্āĻŦ / āĻĻāĻ§িāĻāĻ°্āĻŽা (Dadhikaramba / Dodhikarma)
As a farewell offering before she travels, the divine dessert known as Dadhikaramba is offered to Goddess Saraswati. Chipitak (flattened rice), gur (molasses), sandesh, kadali (banana) and murki (sweet puffed rice) are the key ingredients.
“āĻŦং āĻāĻ¤āĻ¸্āĻŽৈ āĻ¸োāĻĒāĻāĻ°āĻŖ āĻŽিāĻˇ্āĻাāĻ¨্āĻ¨ āĻĻāĻ§িāĻāĻ°āĻŽ্āĻŦ āĻ¨ৈāĻŦেāĻĻ্āĻ¯াāĻ¯় āĻ¨āĻŽঃ”
Bong, etasmai sopakarana mishtanya Dadhikramba Naivedya Namah
Dadhimangal
Dadhimangal is observed before dawn on the wedding day for both bride and groom. They are fed curd, sweets and flattened rice to keep them energetic for the long rituals ahead. Traditionally they fast until the wedding ceremonies are completed later in the evening. During this ritual a tilak of sandalwood and curd is also placed on the forehead to promote calmness and clarity.
In Bengal students also eat doi-chire and mark their foreheads with sandalwood and curd before examinations to help reduce anxiety and remain focused.
The Chida-Dadhi Mahotsav (Panihati Festival)
The Chida-Dadhi Mahotsav, also known as the Panihati Festival of Rice Flakes, commemorates the pastimes of Lord Nityananda Prabhu and Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswami. This festival takes place annually in Panihati near Kolkata along the banks of the Ganges.
Since the festival occurs just before the monsoon season when the climate is extremely hot and humid, cooling foods are served. Yogurt (dadhi), flattened rice (chida), bananas, sugar, milk sweets and other refreshing ingredients are distributed to devotees.
Hundreds of earthen pots filled with mixtures of chipped rice soaked in yogurt or sweet milk were prepared and distributed to pilgrims. This festival is still celebrated every year on the thirteenth day of the bright moon in the month of Jyeshta (May–June).
The story describes how Lord Nityananda playfully ordered Raghunatha Dasa to organise a grand festival and feed chipped rice and yogurt to everyone present. Merchants and villagers brought bananas, yogurt, rice flakes and sweets. The food was purchased and distributed to all attendees regardless of social status.
People of different backgrounds sat together and shared the same meal. Through devotion and communal participation the Bhakti movement helped reshape medieval Bengali society in a simple yet powerful way.
