25 Aug 2025
Dasara also called Vijayadashami is one of the most colourful and blessed festivals that are observed in India. It celebrates the victory of good over evil and is celebrated with enthusiasm, rituals and cultural programs. The festivities in the region also differ by regions but one thing they have in common is the delectable feast traditionally prepared especially during this festival. Ranging in aromatic confectionary to savoury indulgence, there is a strong representation of Indian culinary heritage and tradition that makes Dasara festive menu what it is.
This article will discuss some of the traditional dishes everyone must taste during the festival that can also bind the family together to eat a healthy meal. You can as well read more at Dasara Special Tour Packages: Explore India’s Cultural Heartbeat.
Obbattu, Holige or PuranPoli as it is called in some areas is one of the most common preparations that are a must during Dasara. This sweet flatbread is made up with jaggery, chana dal and cardamom filling and enclosed in wheat or maida wafer thin dough. Obbattu is not simply food but a sentiment with people in connection to festivities. It represents prosperity and it is presented to gods before being consumed by a family.
Payasam is made in milk, rice, and vermicelli or moong dal, sweetened with jaggery or sugar and garnished with dry fruits, cardamom and saffron. AkkiPayasa (rice kheer) and ShavigePayasa (vermicelli kheer) are specially made in the region of South India during Dasara. Payasam and other sweet dishes add to the festivities with the sweetness in payasam,which is a prasadam served after the ritual.
Puliyogare is a tangy, flavour-filled rice platter with a special place in various festive occasions like Dasara. Cooked rice is combined with spicy tamarind paste flavoured with curry leaves, red chilies, sesame seeds, and peanuts. The proportion of tang to heat becomes one of the favourite tangs among children and adults.
Chitranna is simple, but refreshing lemon rice that goes great as an accompaniment to heavier dishes over the holidays. Cooked rice is mixed with lemon juice; green chilies, curry leaves, and turmeric, which make the dish, have a bright yellow colour and a tangy punch. It is regularly made during the incense festivities known as Naivedyam (an offering to the gods) and is consumed in the home as a snack or as a fast-food meal.
Mysore Pak is the jewellery of Dasara sweets. The sweet has a royal connection and is made in quantity to share with neighbours, relatives, and friends.Mysore Dasara Tour is the best option to make your trip memorable.
Kosambariis filled with a salad made out of soaked moong dal, cucumber, coconut, green chilies, and coriander, the salad is light, filled with nutrition, and tasty. Kosambari brings freshness to a meal, but also maintains a healthy balance as well.
Sundal is another available dish, which is prepared during Dasara especially in South India. Prepared with cooked lentils, Sundal is the preparation, which is treated with grated coconut, curry leaves, and light spices. It is protein-rich, and commonly served as prasadam during the Navaratri festivals when dolls (Golu) are put up in homes. Not only is Sundal healthy but it is also a very symbolic sharing of communities.
No south Indian menu is ever complete without rasam and a yogurt-based dish like MajjigeHuli. Rasam is a soupy dish made with tamarind, chili, and other spices helping with digestion and well mixed with rice cooked by steaming. MajjigeHuli, on the other hand, is a mouth-soothing curry prepared using buttermilk, coconut, and fresh vegetables of the season. They offset the lavishness of the kai.
Dasara is not purely a festival; it is more of a combined step-up of tradition, unity, and food culture. The old recipes of food relished during this time present to us the essence of Indian culture and keep the practices of many centuries of tradition in our kitchen.
The best way to experience Dasara in all its authenticity is it in Mysore, Karnataka or the South of India in general is to travel with a regionally knowledgeable person. To ensure that your experience of festival is as hitch-free and fulfilling as it can be, you may Hire Top Tour Operator in Bangalore that will keep you in the loop during the festival, help you taste some of the traditional food options, and make you experience Dasara and its grandeur in a way you have never experienced it before.
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