2A02:A465:D3DF:0:D34:BAEB:D91D:D430 at 15:25, 28 October 2025

2025-10-28T15:25:22Z

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{{Short description|Sweet food from India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox prepared food
| name = Anarsa
| image = Anarsa.jpg
| caption =
| alternate_name =
| country = [[India]] and [[Nepal]]
| region = {{hlist|[[Madhesh Province]]|[[Bihar]]|[[Uttarakhand]]|[[Maharashtra]]}}
| creator =
| course = [[Dessert]]
| type =
| served =
| main_ingredient = [[Jaggery]], [[rice]], [[poppy seed]], [[ghee]]
| variations =
| calories =
| other =
}}

'''Anarsa''' or '''hilsa''' is a rice-based biscuit in Nepal and the Indian states of Bihar and Maharastra, especially in Gaya located in Bihar. It is commonly associated with the [[Hindu]] festival of [[Diwali]] (Tihar) in Nepal, [[Maharashtra]] and [[Bihar]], along with other special occasions.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Prasad|first1=Lalita|last2=Prasad|first2=Ramakant|last3=Upadhyay|first3=Vijay S|title=Changing dietary patterns and habits : a socio-cultural study of Bihar|date=1979|publisher=Concept|page=42|edition=first|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K-AYdQARNVYC&dq=anarsa&pg=PR5|access-date=19 May 2016|archive-date=13 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313152734/https://books.google.com/books?id=K-AYdQARNVYC&dq=anarsa&pg=PR5|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=O'Brien|first=Charmaine|title=The Penguin Food Guide to India|publisher=Penguin Books Limited|year=2013|isbn=9789351185758}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Pathak|first=Jyoti|title=Taste of Nepal|publisher=Hippocrene Books|year=2007|isbn=9780781811217|location=|pages=}}</ref> Its ingredients include [[jaggery]] (unrefined cane sugar), [[rice]], [[poppy seed]] and [[ghee]] (clarified butter).

Anarasha, which means "without corruption" or "eternal" in Sanskrit, is the root of the name "Anarsa". The word Anarasha also denotes cleanness, timelessness, and absence of decay.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mithainama |date=2023-08-18 |title=Anarsa {{!}} Anarasha |url=https://mithainama.com/exploring-the-sweet-saga-of-anarsa/ |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=Mithainama |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Cultural significance ==
In Indian traditions, particularly in the country's north and west, it has a profound and significant cultural significance. This classic treat has a symbolic connection to cultural heritage, festival celebrations, and prosperity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mithainama |date=2023-08-18 |title=Anarsa {{!}} Anarasha |url=https://mithainama.com/exploring-the-sweet-saga-of-anarsa/ |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=Mithainama |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Preparation==
Main steps in preparing Anarsas include soaking rice in water for a few days with frequent changes of water, then drying it and grinding it into a fine powder. The rice powder / flour is then mixed with [[jaggery]] to create a dough. The dough is then rolled in white poppy seeds, pressed into 550–75 cm round disks or balls, and then fried in [[ghee]].<ref name=":0" /> The disks are fried poppy-coated side first.<ref>{{cite web|date=2014-10-23|title=Anarsa in India|url=http://www.india9.com/i9show/Anarsa-55195.htm|access-date=2015-06-19|publisher=India9.com|archive-date=21 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180521021201/http://www.india9.com/i9show/Anarsa-55195.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In a variation from the standard recipe, a banana is added to the [[rice flour]] base.<ref>{{cite book|author=Vikas Khanna|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KS0KLIUuEoYC&q=anarsa|title=My Great Indian Cookbook|date=2012-12-01|isbn=9788184757989|access-date=27 November 2021|archive-date=13 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313152735/https://books.google.com/books?id=KS0KLIUuEoYC&q=anarsa|url-status=live}}</ref> The Bihari variation of anarsa tends to be rounder and ball-shaped as opposed to the flatter one in Maharashtra.<ref>{{cite book|author=Vikas Khanna|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KS0KLIUuEoYC&q=anarsa|title=My Great Indian Cookbook|date=2012-12-01|isbn=9788184757989|access-date=27 November 2021|archive-date=13 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313152735/https://books.google.com/books?id=KS0KLIUuEoYC&q=anarsa|url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Indian sweet]]
* [[Khaja]]
* [[Tilkut]]
* [[Thekua]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Indian desserts]]
[[Category:Bihari cuisine]]
[[Category:Maharashtrian cuisine]]

{{india-cuisine-stub}}

Anarsa - Revision history

2A02:A465:D3DF:0:D34:BAEB:D91D:D430 at 15:25, 28 October 2025