Bengal’s traditional festive fare can be characterized  by its simplicity and unique taste.

Here is a sampling for the five main days of Durga Puja. I remember enjoying these back home in Pilani, India.

Puja Menu

"Shasthi"  or the sixth day of Durga Puja  - "luchi" (a deep-fried bread), "aloor dum" (a delicious potato dish), "chholar dal" (Bengal gram cooked and enhanced with delicate spices), "baigun bhaja" (slices of fried eggplant) and "payesh" (a fantastic rice pudding).

"Saptami" or the seventh day - "parota" (a whole wheat pan fried bread), "badhakopi" (a uniquely Bengali flavored cabbage and potato dish), "moong dal" , "beguni" (a slice of eggplant covered in a batter of Bengal gram flour and spices) and "malpua" (a dessert).

"Ashtami" or the eighth day - This day offers the most traditional of all Bengali festive fare. "khichri" (made with rice, moong dal , cauliflower, potato and spices), "labra" (mixed vegatables), "beguni",  "Aloo Bhaja" (fried matchstick potatoes) and tomato chutney.

"Navami" or the ninth day - "pulao", "paneer kalia" (spicy cottage cheese curry), "beguni", a sweet tomato chutney, "bonde" (a dessert), and "mishti doi" (sweetened yogurt).

"Dashami" or the tenth day - This last day of puja is to meet and greet family and friends after the end of puja days. This is accompanied by some delectable snacks and desserts such as "nimki" (a crunchy deep fried delight), "narkel nadu", "rasogolla", "payesh" and "sandesh".

More Traditional Bengali Recipes You May Enjoy During Pooja

And Lets Not Forget The Sweets

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