Thekua
 | |
| Alternative names |
|
|---|---|
| Type | Cookies |
| Course | Snack |
| Place of origin | India and Nepal |
| Region or state | India
|
| Main ingredients | Wheat flour, sugar syrup or jaggery, ghee, cardamom, coconut, dried fruits, milk |
Thekua (also spelt as Thokwa or Thekariis), also known as Khajuria, Tikari[1] and Thokni, is an Indo-Nepalese cookie popular in Southern Nepal and the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh.[2] Thekua is a revered prasada, offering to god, during Chhath puja.[3][4][5] It has been used as a sweet snack for centuries in these places.[6][7]
It is widely and popularly used as a 'Sandesh' (also called Bhojani) in local ancient-traditional culture. 'Sandesh' (it may be fruits, sweets or any edible/potable goods) . A 'Sandesh' is something which a guest brings to someone's home when he/she arrives there.
History
[edit]Thekua, dating back around 3,700 years to the Rigvedic period (1500-1000 BCE), is referred to as 'Apupa' in the Rigveda. Made with wheat flour, jaggery, milk, and ghee, it was first used for its medicinal benefits and later became a traditional offering to the Sun God during Chhath Puja.[8]
Preparation
[edit]The main ingredients of thekua are wheat flour, chasni (melted sugar) and ghee. Jaggery can sometimes be used as an alternative to sugar.[6] Dough is prepared using these four main ingredients and cardamom can be added to enhance the taste. A special wooden cookie mold is used to form various designs on the thekua.[9] Dough is deep fried in ghee or vegetable oil until it becomes reddish brown. It is soft when hot but hardens after it cools. It needs no preservatives and it can be preserved for several days for eating.
The preparation of thekua for the Chhath celebration is usually done in the worshipping room, to maintain the purity.[10]
Record
[edit]A group of 16 people from Darbhanga, Bihar prepared a Thekuwa of 91 kg in 2019 to catch the attention of the Limca Book of Records.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ Sharma, Gunjan (2 November 2019). "Thekua: The blessing Of Chhath Maiya". G Plus. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ "Snack time delights". My Republica. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ "Sun god to smile on devotees, scientists say". Telegraph India. 30 October 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ "All you need to know about Thekua and how you can make it at homes of Nepal and India". The Times of India. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ "Sun worshippers of Madhesh and Thekua of Nepal". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ a b "'Rasiao-kheer', 'thekua' make for festive platter". The Times of India. 1 November 2011. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
- ^ Grover, Neha (2 November 2019). "Chhath Puja 2019: Thekua And More; 5 Traditional Recipes To Celebrate The Festival With". NDTV Food. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ "History of Thekua: ठेकुआ के बिना पूरा नहीं होता है महापर्व छठ का महाप्रसाद, ऋग्वैदिक काल में मिलता है जिक्र". Good News Today (in Hindi). Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ श्रेष्ठ, सबिना. "छठमा पनि ठेकुवा नखानू!". Setopati (in Nepali). Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- ^ "छठमा ठेकुवा". Nagarik News (in Nepali). Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- ^ Das, Sanjiv (1 November 2019). "Bihar: Makers of 91kg 'thekua' eyeing Limca book". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
External links
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