Annakoot – The Dish Celebrating Govardhan Pooja

Govardhan Pooja is celebrated in Bhargava homes with a special dish called Saggadda. The dish is also known as Annakoot and is a . This falls on the day after Diwali. And I had the opportunity to experience this wonderful tradition at a friend’s place. The Annakoot recipe or Saggadda is a unique combination of 56 ingredients, including 22 vegetables. Most recipes use around 38-40 ingredients, but some use more. The dish has no onion or garlic. 

The Chappan (56) bhog has a special significance around the number 56. Lord Krishna stood for seven days without food lifting up Govardhan hill on his little finger. According to mythology, he used to have eight meals in a day. Hence the bhog offering of 56 (8×7) items. The Chappan bhog is distinct from Saggadda and is a mix of sweets and savoury dishes. I wanted to highlight the relevance of the number 56 in both cases. 

Saggadda or Annakoot Recipe

Saggadda is a lovely mixture of summer vegetables going out of season and winter vegetables are are just coming in. The vegetables used in Saggadda are brinjal, cauliflower, sem (lima bean), pumpkin, small potato, cabbage, french beans, capsicum, okra. parwal (pointed gourd), raw banana, yam, spinach leaf, methi (fenugreek) leaf, arbi (taro root), sweet potato, singhada (Indian water chestnut). mooli (radish) leaf, kundru (ivy gourd) and methi mutheya (fried dumplings made from besan and methi leaf). The spices used are bayleaf, black and green cardamom, clove, pepper, cumin. red chilli, hing (asafoetida), turmeric, curry leaf and coriander seed.

The Bhog Thali for Govardhan Pooja had the Saggadda, Puri, Suji Halwa, Kadhi, Steamed Rice, Homemade Burfi, Mawa Bati and Gujiya shaped like a potli and Chewda.

It was wonderful learning about the tradition around Saggadda. This was something new for me and I’m thankful to Prateek Bhargava for this opportunity. 

Click here for the recipe of Annakoot or Saggadda

Happy cooking and chowder-on!