On Makar Sankranti, many homes in Bihar start the day the same way: a big bowl of dahi-chura.
What chura is
Chura is flattened rice: rice that is soaked, roasted and pressed into thin flakes. It’s eaten in many ways, but in Bihar its most famous pairing is with curd and jaggery.
Katarni, from Bhagalpur
Katarni is an aromatic rice grown around Bhagalpur, and it carries a Geographical Indication tag. Chura made from Katarni rice keeps some of that fragrance, which is why it’s so sought after at festival time.
Sankranti morning
On Sankranti, dahi-chura is eaten with jaggery, with tilkut and seasonal vegetables on the side. Many families eat it together, and visitors are fed before they leave.