Birthday 2024: The festival of Janmashtami is celebrated with great pomp all over India. The festival of Janmashtami is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Krishna. Shri Krishna is considered to be the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Krishna Janmashtami is being celebrated today. On the day of Janmashtami, the child form of Lord Krishna is worshipped.
On this day people observe fast, pray to Lord Krishna and offer him Chhappan Bhog as Prasad. So let us know why Chhappan Bhog is considered so special on the day of Janmashtami, and what is Chhappan Bhog and why Chhappan Bhog is offered to Lord Krishna, let us know the story behind it.
What is Chhappan Bhog?
Chhappan Bhog is a sacred plate of satvik food served to Lord Krishna on the auspicious occasion of Janmashtami. Chhappan Bhog has five types of taste which include sweet, sour, spicy, salty and bitter. Chhappan Bhog is very dear to Lord Krishna.
After all, why are 56 offerings offered to Lord Krishna?
According to mythology, the people of Braj used to hold festivals to please Devraj Indra. So once Bal Gopal Krishna asked his father Nand Baba why people do this festival? Nand Baba told that this puja is done to please Indra so that he gives abundant rain every year. However, Shri Krishna still asked, “Why should we worship Indra for rain? Instead, people should worship Govardhan mountain, which provides fruits, vegetables and fodder for animals.”
Hearing this, Devraj Indra got angry and in anger he rained in the Braj region which caused floods there. To save the villagers, Shri Krishna instructed the people to take shelter under the Govardhan mountain. Shri Krishna easily lifted the Govardhan mountain with the little finger of his left hand. He asked everyone to take shelter and take the support of sticks to stay safe from the storm. For seven days, Shri Krishna lifted the mountain without eating anything. On the eighth day, after the rain stopped, the villagers cooked 56 dishes for seven days to express gratitude to Lord Krishna. Since then, 56 bhogs are offered to thank Lord Krishna on the day of Janmashtami.
Know what is there in Chhappan Bhog?
There are 56 dishes in Chhappan Bhog. Which includes milk and spicy dishes. It also has satvik things like butter mishri, kheer, rasgulla, cumin laddu, jalebi, rabri, malpua, Mohanbhog, rasgulla, moong dal halwa, ghevar, peda, cashew, almond, pistachio, cardamom, panchamrit, shakar para, mathri, chutney, jam, mango, banana, grapes, apple, raisins, plum, pakoras, greens, curd, rice, curry, chilla, papad, khichdi, brinjal curry, gourd curry, puri, tikki, porridge, ghee, honey, white butter, cream, kachori, roti, coconut water, almond milk, buttermilk, shikanji, gram, sweet rice, bhujia, betel nut, fennel and betel leaf.