Sri Satyanarayan Puja Naivedhya (Sapath)




Lord Sri Satyanarayan is an incarnation of  Lord Vishnu, Puja is the act of worship and Naivedhya is Offering to God. Sri Satyanarayan Puja is a very special occasion for Hindus. This Puja requires special Naivedhya which is know as Sapath, but we commonly term it sheera. 

Since childhood I loved this prasad which was offered in 'donno' (container made from dried banana leaves), though I don't like sheera. I was always curious to know about its special preparation. Once I decided to ask the secret of this prasad to our 'Purohit's' wife. 

She told, "this Naivedhya is prepared as per the instructions given in Sri Satayanarayan Vrat Katha (Puran). The ingredients are simple. Suji, Pure Ghee, Sugar, Milk and Banana (5 ingredients). Water, nuts and raisins are NOT TO BE USED. Each ingredient should be taken in the measure of  1 1/4 unit, which is the minimum unit. If you want prepare it in a larger quantity, then you may take 2 1/4, 3 1/4, 4 1/4 and so on. Maintaining 1 1/4 unit is very important. Measuring cup may be smaller or bigger".

She explained the actual practise too. It is cooked trickily. If you are taking a bigger cup for measuring suji, you can take a smaller cup for measuring ghee. Another one is using lesser ghee for eg. for 5 1/4 cup of suji, taking 2 1/4 or 3/14 cup of pure ghee. Now, milk taken in equal quantity as that of suji cannot give soft sheera, but dry like ladoo texture. What is the trick to  be used? For 2 1/4 cups of suji, using 4 1/4 cups of milk, that is doubling 2 units, but maintaining 1/4 unit or even using 5 1/4 for extra soft texture. This is how they actually cook and we enjoy it.  

I have conveyed the convenient way, but it is upto you whether to follow convenient style or the authentic one. Here goes the recipe for the authentic one.

Ingredients:
  1. Suji - 1 1/4 cup
  2. Pure ghee - 1 1/4 cup
  3. Sugar - 1 1/4 cup
  4. Milk - 1 1/4 cup
  5. Ripe Banana (sliced) - 1 1/4  small/ or medium
All the ingredients are to be taken in equal proportion.

Procedure:
  • Dry roast suji till it gives out aroma and keep aside.
  • Boil milk in a thick bottomed vessel simultaneously.
  • Heat pure ghee in a pan and add roasted suji, stir fry for 2 min.
  • Add banana slices and stir fry for half a minute.
  • Add it to the boiling milk. Stir well.
  • When it is getting cooked, add sugar. Stir well.
  • Keep it covered till done.
Tip:
  • This ratio will not yield soft sheera, it will be of dry texture. Milk can be taken in extra quantity (For 1 1/4 cup suji, taking  2 1/4 cup milk), but that is not the authentic proportion though followed commonly.
  • If you want to prepare it for relishing, you need not follow 1 1/4 unit. When offered for Naivedhya, the measure is important.


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