Sumedha Mandal is my batchmate cum hostelmate from RCSM Government Medical college Kolhapur where we spent 5.5 years learning and hustling. She is a bengali migrated to Mumbai like me. She invited us both for Durga pujo pandal hopping in Malad, Mumbai. Here are the food we had - traditional bengali fish fry, kathi rolls, rasgulla …
Food at Bengali Durga Puja
Food is a huge part of Bengali Durga Puja—from sacred bhog served at pandals to street food eaten while pandal-hopping.
1. Bhog — the must-have
The most iconic Puja food is bhoger khichuri, offered to Goddess Durga and then distributed as prasad. A typical pandal bhog includes:
Khichuri – rice + moong dal, usually cooked with ghee and spices
Labra – mixed seasonal vegetables
Beguni – crispy fried brinjal
Aloor dum – spiced potato curry
Tomato/khejur chutney
Papad
Payesh
The fascinating part is that bhog is generally vegetarian and traditionally prepared without onion and garlic.
2. Luchi + Aloor Dum
One of the quintessential Bengali festive combinations:
Luchi = fluffy, deep-fried bread made from refined flour
Aloor Dum = spicy potato curry
It’s particularly popular as a morning Puja meal before heading out for pandal-hopping.
3. Cholar Dal
A rich Bengal gram dal, often cooked with coconut, raisins and aromatic spices. It is traditionally paired with luchi.
4. Basanti Pulao
A fragrant, slightly sweet yellow pulao made with aromatic rice, ghee and dry fruits. It is particularly associated with festive meals.
5. Kosha Mangsho
For non-vegetarian festive eating, kosha mangsho—slow-cooked, intensely spiced mutton—is a major Bengali favourite, often eaten with rice, luchi or pulao.
6. Fish
Bengali celebrations wouldn’t be complete without fish! Depending on the household, you may encounter:
- Shorshe Ilish – hilsa in mustard
- Doi Maach – fish in yoghurt-based gravy
- Rohu and other traditional fish preparations
7. Pandal-hopping street food
Outside the pandals, the food becomes much more casual:
Kathi rolls
Momos
Puchka
Mughlai paratha
Chicken/egg rolls
Chops and cutlets
Chinese-style noodles and fried rice
Kathi rolls and puchka are particularly popular choices while moving between pandals.
8. Bengali sweets
And of course—mishti!
Rasgulla- Sandesh
Mishti doi- Payesh
Various traditional sweets and pitha
Interesting: the food changes through Puja
A simplified way to think about it is:
Saptami → Khichuri + Labra + Bhaja
Ashtami → Vegetarian bhog + Luchi/Cholar Dal
Navami → More elaborate festive meals, including pulao and richer dishes
All days → Street food + Bengali sweets!
The exact menu varies considerably between community pandals and traditional household “barir puja.”
MALAD durga pujo- Google Maps
dan saya juga suka kalungnya 
semangat dan sukses terus ya 
