Gohona Bori facts for kids
  Gohona Bori
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| Alternative names | Naksha Bori |
|---|---|
| Type | Dumpling |
| Place of origin | India |
| Region or state | Purba Medinipur, West Bengal |
| Associated national cuisine | India |
| Main ingredients | Cowpea, Poppy seed and various type of Spices |
| Variations | Bori |
Gohona Bori (pronounced Go-ho-na Bo-ree) is a special kind of dried dumpling from India. It is very popular in Bengali cuisine, especially in the Purba Medinipur area. People also call it Naksha Bori.
This unique dumpling is made from black lentils, poppy seeds, and different spices. It's not just food; it's also seen as a form of art! In 2016, a famous university, IIT Kharagpur, tried to get a special tag for Gohona Bori. This tag, called a Geographical Indication, helps protect its origin and unique qualities.
History of Gohona Bori
Gohona Bori has a very long history in the Bengal region of India. For a long time, people did not use poppy seeds in this dish. This changed after the Battle of Plassey, which happened when the British arrived in India.
The British made farmers in the Rarh region of Bengal grow poppy plants. Because of this, poppy seeds became a common ingredient in cooking. This is how poppy seeds started to be used in Gohona Bori in the Midnapore area.
Gohona Bori as Art
In 1930, a student named Seba Maiti from Santiniketan showed some Gohona Bori to the famous poet Rabindranath Tagore. Her mother, Hirnmayi Debi, and grandmother, Sheratakumari Debi, had made them. Tagore was so impressed by the beauty of these dumplings.
He even wrote a letter asking if he could keep photos of the Gohona Bori at the Art Building in Santiniketan. Because of Tagore's interest, Gohona Bori became famous as a beautiful art form. He believed it was so artistic that eating it felt like destroying a piece of art! He even compared it to old historical artworks and set up an exhibition for them.
Another artist, Nandalal Bose, called Gohona Bori "a jewel from a Bengali mother's jewelry box." He even wanted to publish a book about it.
Gohona Bori's Popularity
Gohona Bori was shown at a big event called the 59th session of the Indian National Congress in Kalyani in 1954. In 1990, the West Bengal government helped organize a food festival. Women from Tamluk who made Gohona Bori took part. They even made Gohona Bori in front of thousands of people in Kolkata. Later, in 1995, a group was created in Tamluk to help sell Gohona Bori.
Designs of Gohona Bori
Each person who makes Gohona Bori can choose their own designs. Some common shapes include triangles, circles, and squares. Makers also create other cool patterns. These can look like shells, lotus flowers, cats, peacocks, owls, or even butterflies.
