Anarsa or Hilsa is a rice-based biscuit in Nepal and the Indian states of Bihar and Maharastra, especially in Gaya located in Bihar. It is commonly associated with the

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

festival of

Diwali Diwali (), also called Deepavali (IAST: ''Dīpāvalī'') or Deepawali (IAST: ''Dīpāwalī''), is the Hindu festival of lights, with variations celebrated in other Indian religions such as Jainism and Sikhism. It symbolises the spiritual v ...

(Tihar) in Nepal,

Maharashtra Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...

and

Bihar Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...

, along with other special occasions. Its ingredients include

jaggery Jaggery is a List of unrefined sweeteners, traditional non-centrifugal cane sugar consumed in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, North America, Central America, Brazil and Africa. It is a concentrated product of Sugarcane juice, cane jui ...

(unrefined cane sugar),

rice Rice is a cereal grain and in its Domestication, domesticated form is the staple food of over half of the world's population, particularly in Asia and Africa. Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice)—or, much l ...

poppy seed Poppy seed is an oilseed obtained from the poppy plant (''Papaver somniferum''). The tiny, kidney-shaped seeds have been harvested from dried seed pods by various civilizations for thousands of years. It is still widely used in many countries, ...

and

ghee Ghee is a type of clarified butter, originating from South Asia. It is commonly used for cooking, as a Traditional medicine of India, traditional medicine, and for Hinduism, Hindu religious rituals. Description Ghee is typically prepared by ...

(clarified butter). Anarasha, which means "without corruption" or "eternal" in Sanskrit, is the root of the name "Anarsa". The word Anarasha also denotes cleanness, timelessness, and absence of decay.

Cultural significance

In Indian traditions, particularly in the country's north and west, it has a profound and significant cultural significance. This classic treat has a symbolic connection to cultural heritage, festival celebrations, and prosperity.

Preparation

Main steps in preparing Anarsas include soaking rice in water for a few days with frequent changes of water, then drying it and grinding it into a fine powder. The rice powder / flour is then mixed with

to create a dough. The dough is then rolled in white poppy seeds, pressed into 550–75 cm round disks or balls, and then fried in

. The disks are fried poppy-coated side first. In a variation from the standard recipe, a banana is added to the

rice flour Rice flour (also rice powder) is a form of flour made from finely milled rice. It is distinct from rice starch, which is usually produced by steeping rice in lye. Rice flour is a common substitute for wheat flour. It is also used as a thickening ...

base. The Bihari variation of anarsa tends to be rounder and ball-shaped as opposed to the flatter one in Maharashtra.

References

Indian desserts Bihari cuisine Maharashtrian cuisine {{india-cuisine-stub

Cultural significance

Preparation

See also

References