Patna: As Chhath Puja begins, devotees across Bihar and Uttar Pradesh observe the first day, known as “Nahay-Khay,” with a ritual bath and a simple, Satvik meal, with pumpkin rice at its heart.
For centuries, pumpkin rice has been more than a culinary tradition; it is a symbol of purity and preparation. On Nahay-Khay, devotees cleanse both body and mind, consuming a meal designed to energise the body while remaining light and easily digestible. Pumpkin, considered a gift of the earth, is rich in fiber, potassium, antioxidants, and carotenoids, providing essential nutrients while aiding digestion. Combined with rice, it offers sustained energy to support the fasts that follow.
Spicy and oily foods are traditionally avoided, making pumpkin rice an ideal choice. Prepared with chana dal and plain rice, the dish helps maintain balance in the body, preparing devotees for the more rigorous Kharna and Arghya fasts that define the festival.
Beyond its nutritional benefits, pumpkin rice embodies cultural and spiritual values. The aroma of the dish fills neighbourhoods as women clean their homes, prepare puja offerings, and arrange prasad, reinforcing community bonds and collective devotion.
The tradition of consuming pumpkin rice during Nahay-Khay remains as vibrant today as it was centuries ago, reflecting both faith and a deep-rooted cultural identity. The first day of Chhath Puja, with its combination of ritual, food, and preparation, lays the foundation for the spiritual journey of the festival that continues over the next three days.
