Chhat Puja

This is hot off the presses and happening as we speak! The Sun salutation like none other.

That’s me, with the Lauki-Bhaat (explanation below) meal in my hands. Photo belongs to the author.

Day One, yesterday, was the Bottle-Gourd and Rice day, when pink salt and ghee season the veggie and rice with split chickpea lentil gravy.

That’s my neighbor, Pammi, in the Brazil colours. Photo belongs to the author.

My neighbor, Pammi, serves the festive food to friends and family as an offering.

The bottle-gourd and rice meal is the last meal devotees consume before 1.5 days of fasting. My neighbor, who performs the festival prayers, sneaks in some deep-fried pakoras for her guests. Like me!

Veg and fruit display. Photo by the author.

Day Two and the markets overflow with fruit and veg. The Chhat Puja is an offering to the Sun Goddess Usha, wife of the Sun God Surya. Everything the Sun couple touch ought to be offered to them and well, people try. You won’t see any avocados in that photo, though — they don’t grow here.