Any Durga Puja celebration sans sweets is like Deepavali without lights. As the countdown to Puja for Bengalis begins, amongst other plans that involve planning for clothes and accessories, pandal hoping and family get-togethers, are mishtis. You could say Durga Puja is no less than a wedding at home where sweets are a must. Blame it on the spirit of celebration in the air, but we can't think of a better excuse than Durga Puja to give our strict dietary regimen a break and indulge in everything we usually consider sinful. You must not miss them too! 

1. Sondesh

While Pujo mithais are a dime a dozen, if you haven't had sondesh yet, this is the time to try the delectable sweet dish. Prepared with milk, cottage cheese and sugar, and decorated temptingly with pistachios, almonds and saffron strands, this Bengali sweet will melt in your mouth. What's more, the saffron strands give the soft sweet a unique flavour and the nuts give the much-needed crunchiness.  Durga Puja 2019: If You Do Not Find These 5 Types of Pandal Hoppers During Pujo, Are You Even in Bengal?

2. Rosogulla

Rosogallas are the iconic sweets of Bengali cuisine one cannot simply say no to. Dipped in sugar syrup these soft sponges taste nothing less than heavenly. Weight watchers rejoice as you can have the low-calorie version of rosogulla too. The baked rosogollas are not only healthy but yummy. 

3. Raj Bhog

If you have already tried the sondesh and rosogulla and want to try something new, raj bhog will satiate your sweet tooth like no other. Stuffed with almonds and pistachios, this Bengali sweet is made with cottage cheese. It's a feast truely fit for royalty. Durga Puja 2019 Special: Breastfeeding Centre to Be Built for Mothers & Newborns at Kolkata Pandals 

4. Chenar Payesh

If you want to try more of those traditional Bengali mithais, get your hands on chenar payesh. This sweet dish may not be the quickest one to make when you try it at home, but it's absolutely lip-smacking. Add a lot of dry fruits to make it burst with flavours.  

5. Shor Bhaja

You cannot come out of a Durga Puja pandal without trying shor bhaja. The rich and savoury treat was first made in Krishna Nagar, West Bengal and is purely made of cream of the milk dipped in sugar syrup. It’s okay to indulge a little bit sometimes, isn’t it? Durga Puja 2019 Traditional Bengali Dishes: Kosha Mangsho to Muri Ghonto, Check Out the Finger Licking Non-Veg Food Recipes to Devour This Pujo. 

6. Mishti Doi

No Bengali festival is complete without the all-time favourite sweet curd. This light dish after a meal not only leaves a delicious flavour behind but also cools you down. Mishti doi has a thick and dense texture, just like ice cream. The dry fruits give the yogurt a crunchy flavour.

7. Malpua

Not your regular malpuas, this soft Bengali pancake is dipped in sweet saffron syrup. The mixture is sometimes delicately seasoned with cardamoms to give it an impeccable taste. This scrumptious sweet dish tastes best when served hot with cold rabri. How can you go without not giving this dish a try?

 

If you want to leave your guests impressed, why not try preparing these sweet dishes yourself? Come on, it is not all that difficult to make these as long as you have the right ingredients. Call your Bengali friend for help.  

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 26, 2019 06:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).