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Debaditya talks about his Durga Puja ‘bhog-hopping’ days as a kid

The musician feels nothing can beat the taste of ‘bhog’er khichuri’ and ‘labra’

For musician Debaditya Chaudhury of the band Lakkhichhara, Durga Puja brings back cherished childhood memories, particularly having bhog. Despite often being away from home for concerts during the Pujas, he has never missed bhog’er khichuri and labra — a simple yet deeply satisfying meal. According to Debaditya, there’s something uniquely special about bhog that sets it apart from the khichuri made at home or in restaurants. “Even with simplistic methods and minimal ingredients, bhog’er khichuri has a taste of its own that reaches new heights when paired with labra,” he said.

The musician’s fondest memories stem from his childhood when he and his friends would plan their days around collecting bhog, making it a delightful tradition. Rather than participating in the usual rituals, he would chalk out a pandal itinerary for “bhog-hopping”, eagerly relishing this heavenly dish from various Puja pandals. Debaditya humorously notes that while he cannot cook, the magic of bhog’er khichuri lies in its elusive recipe, claiming, “Even the same cook can’t replicate the same  bhog at home.”

His love for bhog is such that the restaurateur wishes he could indulge in it every day during Puja, even on Dashami.

— Urvashi Bhattacharya