Saraswati Puja 2024: 7 Festive Basant Panchami Recipes

Make way for a fresh wave of festivities as Basant Panchami and Saraswati Puja are almost here. Basant Panchami is a festival that marks the arrival of spring and is celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm across the country

Each region has certain culinary traditions and ingredients with which they celebrate this festival. The dishes made during this Panchami, which also coincides with Saraswati Puja, are meant to symbolise the bounty of nature as it awakens from its winter slumber.

Some ingredients like coconut, nuts, rice etc are used across regions and are used to make kheer, kulfi, laddoo and several other kinds of desserts and they’re also used to make prasad. Here are a few dishes which you can make at home for Basant Panchami.

Saffron-Infused Kesariya Bhaat

Kesariya Bhaat, a fragrant saffron-infused rice dish, is made across several states during Basant Panchami. Also known as zarda rice or meethe chawal, this dish has a golden hue of saffron symbolising the warmth of spring, making it a fitting addition to the festive spread. Garnished with slivered almonds and cashews, this dish is not just delicious but also captures the essence of the season in its vibrant presentation.

In the eastern states like West Bengal and Odisha, a rendition of this known as basanti pulao is served during Saraswati Puja and Panchami. It’s made with rice flavoured with ghee and turmeric which is mixed with nuts and raisins.