In the land of "thirteen festivals in twelve months" (a Bengali saying), Bhadra Sankranti (September 16 or 17 or 18) signifies the festival of Ranna Pujo (Worship of Cooking/Cooked Food). This festival is observed across Bengal, especially in the rural areas, on the day preceding Vishwakarma Puja. Ranna Pujo 2026 date is September 16.
Ranna Pujo In Bengal is infused with the aroma of worship,
the earthy scent of soil, and a handful of love. As the name suggests, this day
involves the worship of the earthen oven (or stove) and the Family Deity (Griha
Devata). According to the tradition, cooking starts the night before and
continues throughout the night. The next day, on the day of Vishwakarma Puja,
the entire family eats the food cooked on the previous night.
Importance Of Ranna Pujo In South Bengal
This age-old custom is still followed by many families in
South Bengal. The homemakers begin chopping vegetables, grinding spices, and
cooking dish after dish in the dead of night. There is a condition: all cooking
must be completed before the sun rises. At the break of dawn, the prepared
dishes are first offered to Goddess Manasa. Only after this offering does the
feasting begin.
Food Prepared During Ranna Pujo
The main attraction of this festival is the preparation of
the food itself. The purpose of this worship is specifically to show respect to
the Family Deity and the oven/stove. As part of this honor, the housewives stay
up all night, engrossed in cooking various dishes. Besides different
preparations of Ilish (Hilsa fish), traditional dishes for this day include Kachu
Shaak (Taro leaves curry), Chholar Dal (Bengal gram split peas), Chaltar Tok
(Eleventh apple sour curry), various types of fried vegetables (bhaja), and
fish curry.
The Ranna Pujo festival is particularly prevalent in the
villages, even though its rituals are quite rigorous. Steps are often taken to
ensure that no sunlight enters the cooking area. All cooking must be finished
before sunrise on the next day. On the following day—Vishwakarma Puja—everyone
shares the food that was cooked the previous night.
What does a Ranna Pujo platter contain?
Everything from vegetables like potato, pumpkin, pointed
gourd (patol), taro (kachu), banana, eggplant (begun), and Malabar spinach (puishak),
to chholar dal, fried coconut, rice, fish curry (jhal), and chaltar tok.
However, the true star of Ranna Pujo is the Hilsa fish (Ilish). In many homes,
the custom of preparing fried, steamed (bhapa), or spicy Hilsa curry is still
followed on this day.