Healthy Barley Sattu | Fiber rich Jaber chhatu makha on Chaitra Sankranti

Healthy Barley Sattu | Fiber rich Jaber chhatu makha on Chaitra Sankranti the day before Poila Baishakh festival

Fiber Rich Barley Sattu and seasonal fruits and jawb or jaber chhatu was always made and served as a offering of Neel Shasthi Puja and Charak puja on Chaitra Sankranti the day before Poila Baishakh festival.

Barnali Dutta | May 14th 2022, 7:23 AM

Healthy Barley Sattu Bengali fiber-rich jawer chhatu recipe on Chaitra Sankranti.
চৈত্র সংক্রান্তির জবের ছাতু মাখা—কলা, নারকেল ও দুধের সঙ্গে পরিবেশিত ঐতিহ্যবাহী খাবার

The food products required in the various religious practices from the Vedic period that has been continuing till now has ensured their survival even after so many years since they were cultivated ritually for these reasons framed to maintain the purity of food. In recent times the degradation of our resources like soil, drinking water etc. has made us realize the importance of these seasonal puja rituals in maintaining the ecological balance, which we cannot afford to ignore them still now.

Therefore, the above facts prove it that ancient Indians attached great importance to proper diet of the people. These recipes are mostly religious in character but provide us with some data about the food articles used by early Aryans as most of the offerings which they made to the gods consisted of the food articles, which they themselves used.

My intention is to identify the food items that are free from any religious and communal bias and refer to the food habits of the people in all parts of India, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian.

As now, cereals formed a very important part of Indian food and among cereals the most important place was occupied by barley. In the Atharva veda it is called one of the two immortal sons of heaven i.e. barley and rice. It was ground and formed into cakes which were dipped into ghee before eating. Sweet cakes (apupa) of barley flour were also prepared. Parched barley was eaten either whole with Soma juice or ground into meal, which was mixed with curds, clarified butter, Soma juice. Water is referred to frequently in the post Rigveda literature. Two varieties of barley, one superior and the other inferior and two of those wheat called Nandimukhi and Madhulika were used. All the old preparations of barley and wheat were in use but yavagu seems to be very popular. Some new preparations such as vitanaka, polika, istaka, and locika are mentioned. As before groats were taken in the liquid form as also when they were prepared in a thick consistency. People often took groats with them when proceeding on a journey.

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The general rules of etiquette were clearly mentioned in Vedic period significantly for the medical reasons. The duty of preparing food and taking meals on a clean piece of leaf after washing hands, feet and mouth is equally emphasized through puja rituals. Necessity of changing food according to the climatic temperature and temperament of human character and not eating the same preparations day after day was fully recognized by them.

Ingredients

• Jaw or Barley sattu: 200g
• Mashed ripe banana: 2
• Tal patali or Toddy palm jaggery: 100g
• Scrapped coconut: 1 tablespoon
• Skimmed milk: 100mL
• Puffed rice or muri: 1 tablespoon
• Salt: one pinch

Directions

• Mix all the ingredients and serve.

Prep time: 10 min | Cook time: 5 min | Total time: 15 min

Nutrition label of healthy barley sattu.

FAQ about Chaitra Sankranti and Jaber Chhatu Makha

What is Chaitra Sankranti?

Chaitra Sankranti marks the last day of the Bengali month of Chaitra and the closing of the Bengali year. It comes just before Poila Baishakh and reflects a seasonal transition.

চৈত্র সংক্রান্তি বাংলা বছরের শেষ দিন, যা পয়লা বৈশাখের আগের দিন হিসেবে উদযাপিত হয় এবং ঋতু পরিবর্তনের সময়কে নির্দেশ করে।

What does Chaitra mean in the Bengali calendar?

Chaitra is the final month of the Bengali calendar, usually falling between March and April, marking the end of the dry season.

চৈত্র বাংলা ক্যালেন্ডারের শেষ মাস, যা সাধারণত মার্চ-এপ্রিলের মধ্যে পড়ে এবং গ্রীষ্মের আগমনের সূচনা করে।

What foods are traditionally eaten on Chaitra Sankranti?

On Chaitra Sankranti, light and seasonal foods like chhatu makha, fruits, and jaggery-based preparations are commonly eaten.

চৈত্র সংক্রান্তিতে সাধারণত হালকা ও ঋতুভিত্তিক খাবার যেমন ছাতু মাখা, ফল এবং গুড়ের তৈরি খাবার খাওয়া হয়।

Why is barley sattu (jaber chhatu) eaten during this time?

Barley sattu is a fiber-rich and easily digestible food, suitable for the seasonal transition at the end of Chaitra.

যবের ছাতু আঁশসমৃদ্ধ ও সহজপাচ্য খাবার, যা চৈত্রের শেষে ঋতু পরিবর্তনের সময় শরীরের জন্য উপযোগী।