Bhojpuri cuisine
Bhojpuri cuisine is a style of food preparation common amongst the Bhojpuri people of Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Bhojpuri foods are mostly mild and are less hot in term of spices used, but could be hotter and spicier according to individual preference. The food is tailor-made for Bhojpuri lifestyle in which the rural folk expend many calories in the fields. Bhojpuri people take pride in celebrating various festivals and religious rites with food; as a result, their food resembles the delicacies offered to deities. Bhojpuri people enjoy eating both vegetable and meat dishes. The cuisine is  heavily influenced by its neighbouring Awadhi. Staple diet. Wheat (Ganhum गँहूम्) and Rice (Chawal चावल) are the staple cereal of most of the peoples. Maize (Makai मकई), Barley (Jau जौ) and Pearl Millet (Bajra बाजड़ा) are also highly consumed in Bhojpuri cuisine. Lentils (daal दाल), beans (lobiya लोबिया, rajma राजमा), meat (sikaar सिकार) (mutton, lamb and chicken; beef and pork are avoided), green vegetables (sabzi तरकारी), leafy vegetables (saag साग), paneer (पनीर), and fish (machhari मछरी) are major constituents of the regular diet of the peoples. Breakfast. Breakfast in the region is roti based and includes a variety of breads  made up of whole wheat or refined wheat flour which includes roti, parathas, stuffed parathas and is made with sabzi, dahi (yogurt), or raita. On special occasions Halwa-Puri, Kheer/sevai-Puri, Pua-Dahi, Chhole-Puri, etc. are commonly served as breakfast. A more common breakfast served as street food includes Puri-Sabzi, Chana, Kachori and Jalebi. Lunch. Lunch is rice based and includes Dal (split beans like chana dal, masoor dal, moong dal, urad dal, arhar/tur dal etc. are cooked with water, turmeric powder and salt), sabzi-korma (vegetable or meat cooked in rich but mildly-spicy and  balanced gravy), chokha (boiled, roasted and mashed potatoes, eggplants, tomatoes are mixed with several herbs and seasoning), chutney (dhaniya ka chutney or coriander chutney is the most traditional chutney of the region with rich flavour of coriander, green chilli, garlic, lemon and mustard oil), bhujia (pan fried potatoes cut in finger shapes), pickle and may also include rotis for those who prefer it over rice. On special occasions, several rice dishes like pulao, biryani etc. are served and several changes can be observed in the lunch. In fact, it can be completely changed and then it could have many delicious  dishes, sweets and savouries. Snacks. Generally served with tea, at evening time. It includes many kind of snacks mostly deep fried and salted. Most of the time, as a substitute for it, a handful and generous amount of dry fruits are eaten like kishmish (raisins), badam (almonds), khajur/chohara (dates), zameeni badam/chinia badam (peanuts), akharot (walnuts), chillgooza (pinenut), kaju (cashews), pista (pistachios) and anjeer (dried figs) soaked in milk. Dinner. Dinner is also roti based and is eaten with sabzi-korma or roti is broken into a bowl of hot milk (can be sweetened), and then eaten. It is  often called doodh-roti. Sometimes, litti is grilled over charcoal or is baked in cowdung cakes or charcoal in a clay oven and is eaten with chokha or murga (chicken korma). Dinner could change at special occasions and can be replaced by meat dishes like korma (meat with gravy), kebab and kofta (meat balls with spicy gravy) and served with tandoori roti (harder than the usual pan baked roti) or naan and Salaad (salad). Satvik Khana. There is a tradition of eating Satvik Khana (Sentient food) in the holy city of Banaras. It is a Lacto Vegetarian diet and excludes  the uses of garlic and onion. Non Vegetarianism. Since ancient times, peoples of this region have been practicing non-vegetarian along with vegetarian diets to meet the need for protein, vitamins and fat. Also non-vegetarian dishes are seen as delicacies and are eaten with great relish. It has always been a custom to serve the guests any non-vegetarian dish at least once in their term of stay. But after the decline of Vedic Hinduism and uprising of Modern Hinduism along with direct influences from newborn religions like Buddhism and Jainism resulted in decrease of heavy dependence upon meat  and ended up with only few kinds of meat yielding animals being edible like goat, sheep and swine, and because Cows got an auspicious position in modern Hinduism, the meat of cows, oxen and bulls became taboo. Later on after the influence of Islam, swine also became a taboo. But still many Hindu families in remote areas of this region hunt for wild boars and Muslims can be still found enjoying beef and meat of Nilgai (Asian antelope). Nilgai is avoided among Hindus because they are mistaken to be cow like cattle's and hence sacred. After the arrival of  British rulers, poultry became popular and now has become one of the largest contributor in meat yielding animals. But still mutton is regarded as the superior meat over poultry and fish. Fish have also been popular since ancient times due to a large number of big and small rivers flowing through the region. Freshwater fish and small freshwater prawns also form a good proportion in total meat consumption. Essentials. Spices & condiments. Amount of spices used in cooking are very few and sometimes can be just two or three kind of spices, which imparts a perfect aroma and taste, rather than  putting all spices together and making the dish very spicy and hot. Among these spices, a few of them are used in any particular dish. Festival delicacies. In the region, a festival is celebrated by preparing several delicious dishes. And the dishes are shared with all communities irrespective of religion or caste. Khichdi/Sekraat. Also called Makar Sankranti is the first festival of the year. On this day, at morning, people eat Til ke laddu, Tilwa, Tilkut and Laai. And at lunch time, Chura-Dahi-Gur is eaten. And at evening special Khichdi is served along with melted ghee, Pickle , papar, chokha, chutney, and dahi. Vasant Panchmi. This festival is celebrated as the last day of winter season and welcoming of spring season. On this day Halwa is made of semolina. And is eaten with Puri. Holi/Hori/Paguwa. Holi is one of the largest festival of Bhojpuri region. On this day, meat dishes and intoxicating drinks and sweets (thandai/bhang halwa) are the main attraction. In large families, a Bakra/Khasi (he-goat/sheep) is bought few days before the festival, and is slaughtered on the day of festival. The backstrap and shoulder parts are cut into small pieces  and marinated in garlic, onion and few spices and then skewered over charcoal to make Bihari Seekh Kebab. Liver (kaleji) is cut into small pieces and is pan fried with a little salt and pepper. And is one of the delicacies for children. While the rest part of the meat are cooked as korma. The korma is eaten with Pua (a batter of wheat flour and sugar with various dry fruits, deep fried in ghee). Meat dishes are eaten all day and the meat is also shared with neighbourers and relatives. Also a very sweet halwa made up of dry  fruits, condensed milk and bhang is prepared. At evening/night, peoples enjoy delicious Pakora, Gulab jamun, Chhole, Dahi-baras, and Kadhi-bari served with boiled rice. Shivraatri. On this day, the persons specially women who did fasting eat Phalahar (fruit diet). Ramnavami. It is also one of the major festival of the region. A night before this festival, women cook Kheer, Puri, Dal-Puri and gulgula next morning after worshiping, these are eaten as offering whole day. Janmashtami. This occasion is linked with special Halwas of Singhara (Chestnut) and Khas-Khas (Poppy seeds). Teej. A day before the festival, women  dedicate their whole day in preparing Perukia. And on the day of this festival, they offer this dessert and fruits to the God and after the worshiping, it is eaten as offering. It can be eaten for several days as it doesn't require preservation or refrigeration. Navami/Navraatar and Dassahara. Satvik khana is eaten on all the nine days of Puja. And on tenth day i.e., Dussehra special dishes like Puri, Kachori, Dum-Aloo, Chhole, Jalebi Pua, Bari-Kadhi, Dahi-Bara, etc. are cooked. At evening after "Ravan-Dahan", there is tradition of meat eating. Diwali. This is one  of the largest festival of the region and people enjoy eating numerous kind of sweets and savouries, like gujia, anarsa and ladoo. One sweet always associated with Diwali is Cheeni ke Khilone. Chhath Puja. It is the largest festival of this region. It is celebrated 3 consecutive days. On first day "Nahay Khay", after the holy bath in river, boiled small grain "arwa chawal/sama ke chawal" is eaten with lauki ki sabzi (bottlegourd sautéd in ghee and li'l rock salt is added and cooked till done) and "Chane ki dal". On second day "Kharna", people take dip in holy  Ganges and take the water home to cook Kheer (jaggery is used in place of sugar) and Puri. And is eaten as Prasad at night. Next day on "Dala Chhath" Thekua and belgrami is prepared by the women who are on fasting. After both the "Arghyas", on the fourth day, these sweets along with several fruits and dry fruits are served as Prasad. And is eaten for several days. Dishes. Some dishes popular in Bhojpuri cuisine include: Pickle. In Bhojpuri region, pickling is quite common and traditional. There are varieties of pickles (Pickle & Murabba) prepared in each and every home . Aachar includes, Aam (Mango), Aãwla (Amla), Imli (Tamarind), Mooli (Radish), Lehsun (Garlick), Nimbu (Lemon), Lemu (Lime), Gajar (Carrot), Gobhi (Cauli flower), Sonth (Dried Ginger), Laal aur Hara Marcha (Red and Green Chilli) and Murabbas are generally prepared from Aãwla (Amla), Cheri (Cherries), Aam (Mango), also called Amawat etc. Dips, chutneys and raita. Dips like raita and chutney are important part of Bhojpuri cuisine. There are several dips prepared which are served as a side dish to enhance the taste of the centre-piece meal. Raita. Raitas are prepared by mixing thick dahi (yogurt) with several vegetable, herbs and seasonings. Bhojpuri