Feasting on Faith at Chittorgarh

Feasting on Faith at Chittorgarh: From Victory Tower to Dal Baati Churma

Chittorgarh also Chitror or Chittor or Chittaurgarh) is a major city in the state of Rajasthan in western India. It lies on the Berach River, a tributary of the Banas, and is the administrative headquarters of Chittorgarh District. It was a major stronghold of the Rajput State of Medapata (modern Mewar). The city of Chittorgarh is located on the banks of river Gambhiri and Berach.

Chittorgarh is home to the Chittor Fort, one of the largest forts in India and Asia. It was sacked thrice; first in 1303 by Alauddin Khalji, again in 1535 by Bahadur Shah of Gujarat, and lastly by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1568. Chittor has been a land of worship for Meera. It is also known for Panna Dai and Rani Padmini.

Vijaya Stambha or Victory tower is a Rajput victory tower that is situated within the fort in Chittorgarh. The tower is built by Hindu Rajput king, Rana Kumbha of Mewar, in 1448 CE to celebrate his win over the army of Sultanate of Malwa ruler, Mahmud Khilji, in the Battle of Sarangpur. The tower is the monument not only to the military triumph but also to the lasting reminder of faith Colonel James Todd reckoned it among the best specimens of Hindu Rajput architecture & even better than Qutub Minar.

Among Chittorgarh’s culinary treasures, Dal Baati Churma reigns supreme. This meal has three components, the first is lentils that are cooked in fragrant spices until they are hearty, the second are baatis, which are heavy wheat rolls that are baked until they are golden over coals and the third is Churma, a sweet crumb mixture of coarsely ground wheat, jaggery and ghee. Simple ingredients, one by itself, but together they form a meal of great depth and richness, as appropriate to the spirit of unity in diversity which is the foundation of community as of faith.

In the same way that humble ingredients—flour, lentils, spices—are transformed by fire and intention into sustenance, so the believer’s heart is refined by trials and devotional practice. Preparing Dal Baati Churma can become an act of worship: kneading the dough with mindful gratitude, tending the simmering Dal with prayer, and sharing the steaming plates as an expression of fellowship. As Jesus declared,

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
—John 6:35

Just as the baati sustains the body, the Bread of Life alone truly satisfies the soul—nurturing faith, forging bonds of love, and shaping a believer’s life into a continual offering of praise.

Barbarik Restaurant is the best joint to enjoy a sumptuous meal of Dal -Baati-Churma in the traditional way. https://www.chittorgarhrestaurant.com/