The Grand Feast of Kul Mangal var Vrat, A Meal to praise the Family Deity (Kul Devi)

The Grand Feast of Kul Mangal var Vrat, A Meal to praise the Family Deity (Kul Devi) in traditional Bengali Merchant family houses.

In a traditional Bengali Merchant (Vanik, Baniya) family, we have sudden rituals that are so unique in every possible way. And when the month of Agrahayna (agahana in Hindi, generally October) comes in the calendar, it is the time for a grand feast on a Tuesday afternoon during Waxing period of Moon (Shukla Paksha). The day to praise and please the Kul Devi (family deity) Mata Mangal Chandi. 

As per Wikipedia, Chandi is one of the most popular folk deities in Bengal, and many poems and literary compositions in Bengali called Chandi Mangala Kavyas were written from 13th century to early 19th century. These had the effect of merging the local folk and tribal goddesses with mainstream Hinduism. 

Now, let's talk about the feast.

It's one of the rare occasions when you won't find any trace of fish or any non-vegetarian food in a Bengali feast.

At the very beginning, the Vrat Katha of Mata Mangal Chandi is recited while all the ladies of the family sit on the ground and offer their prayer to the Deity.

The food is served on Banana leaves and it must be placed on the ground.

The meal starts with some seasonal fruits and sweetened curd (mishti dahi) and rice puffs (murmure, moori), often mixed together. Followed by some Luchi (poori), and simple Lentil Soup (Daal) and Mixed Vegetables like Pumpkin-potato gravy, Chhena Kofta (cottage cheese dumplings), Potato and Pointed Groud (Parmal) Fries, Brinjal Fry et.al. 

And a verity of sweets like Jalebi, Imarti, Sondesh and many more homemade sweets like Coconut Laddoo, Barfi is enjoyed by the ladies.

The meal ends with praising the Deity and with a homemade Paan (beetle leaves folded with some mouth fresheners)

Traditionally the ladies of the house perform the rituals, but as a glutton since my childhood, I never used to miss the feast, even I used to sacrifice attending school on the day of Kul Mangal Vrat. But time flies and all I can do now is to share my memories via this blogpost as Dad shared the picture of today's feast.

My Grandma

My Mom

My Grandmother and Mom have been performing the ritual and preparing the feast the best way they can while my wife, Oindrilla and I miss all such special days a lot being away from them!