On Janmashtami, 56 different food items are offered to Lord Krishna.
Janmashtami brings people together in a joyous celebration of Shri Krishna's birth. Temples and households are decorated with lots of lights and flowers, while devotees perform various customs and rituals to seek the blessings of Krishna. And the heart of the festival lies in the sumptuous meal that's offered to the God - Chappan Bhog.
Chappan Bhog consists of precisely 56 'sattvic' food items that offer all 5 tastes - sweet, sour, spicy, salty, bitter, and savory. The items are strictly vegetarian, and each is prepared with pure ghee and devoid of onions and garlic. It's a symbol of devotees' endless love and gratitude to Shri Krishna!
However, you may wonder why it contains specifically 56 food items. It's a valid question, and only a few know the answer. As the world celebrates Janmashtami today, let's learn about it in this article.
According to legends, the Gopis of Gokul desired to have Lord Krishna as their husband. To fulfill their wish, they bathed in River Yamuna every day for a month and worshipped Mother Katyayani. After that, the Gopis offered a grand feast of 56 different dishes to Krishna to win his love.
However, there's another story that is relatively more popular. When the villagers of the Braj region were preparing a grand event to worship Lord Indra, Krishna came and urged them to worship the Govardhan Mountain (which provided fruits and vegetables to them, and fodder for animals) instead. The villagers followed Krishna's suggestion, which obviously didn't sit well with Indra.
Indra unleashed a devastating storm upon Braj, leading to severe floods. Well, Krishna emerged as the savior yet again. He lifted the Govardhan mountain with the little finger of his left hand and asked everyone to take shelter beneath it. He held up the mountain for seven consecutive days and hence went without food during this time.
(Credit: vinod96429)
Lord Krishna enjoyed eight meals a day. So, to honor him, the villagers prepared as well as offered him fifty-six (7x8) types of dishes—eight varieties for each meal. And that's how the tradition of Chappan Bhog began.
The 56 items typically included in Chappan Bhog are - Kheer, Rabdi, Rasgulla, Moong Dal Halwa, Mishri, Jeera Laddus, Jalebi, Mohanbhog, Ghevar, Peda, Almonds, Cashews, Cardamoms, Pachamrit, Pistachios, Shakkar Para, Mango, Mathri, Murabba, Chutney, Banana, Grapes, Plums, Raisins, Apples, Kadhi, Pakore, Saag, Rice, Curd, Papad, Cheela, Khichdi, Baingan ki sabzi, Tikki, Poori, Dudh ki sabzi, Meethe chawal, Bhujia, Saunf, Paan, Supari, Shikanji, Channa, Chaach, Roti, Almond milk, Ghee, Coconut water, Honey, Daliya, White Butter, Kachori, and Fresh Cream.
It adheres to the dietary preferences of Shri Krishna.
It is believed that offering Chappan Bhog to Krishna on Janmashtami pleases him. Hence, he grants all the wishes of the devotees.
The meal begins with pure milk products that pay homage to Lord Krishna's childhood.
The items in Chappan Bhog vary across the regions based on their culinary practices (especially the availability of core ingredients).
