By SAUV Publication
In the last two decades however, the rich and diverse food-culture of Bihar has been reduced to Litti- Chokha only, and not much has been spoken about other dishes on the palette that the state offers. While Litti-Chokha indeed is an authentic Bihari dish, tracing its origin to cattle rearing section of society in Bihar wherein it was baked on cowdung cake .
India is a multi-cuisine nation where every state offers something unique for food connoisseurs. The uniqueness originates out of the climate, natural habitat, society and culture of the state.
Bihar economy being primarily agricultural and the fact that it is embedded in a highly fertile indo-gangetic belt, its food habits and cuisines have derived their character and flavor accordingly.
A diverse and rich menu flows as a corollary, with its urban and rural variations.In the last two decades however, the rich and diverse food-culture of Bihar has been reduced to Litti-Chokha only, and not much has been spoken about other dishes on the palette that the state offers.
While Litti-Chokha indeed is an authentic Bihari dish, tracing its origin to cattle rearing section of society in Bihar wherein it was baked on cowdung cake for few hours and, when fully baked, dipped in abundantly found ghee in such households.
It was a healthy and simple food – made of wheat flour and crushed dry gram – that lasted for few hours before full digestion.
It was so popular in the Bhojpuri speaking rural belt that hordes of the first generation Girmitia migrants carried the dish with them to Carribean countries, Fizi, Mauritius etc, and then to Calcutta, and other parts of India as second wave of migration.
In course of time the dish found political patronage and its popularity had a multiplier effect through social media as well. The story of the food habits and cuisines in the urban centres of Bihar was different, but we will come to that a little later in the issue.
