Thekua is more than a sweet — it is the heartbeat of Chhath Puja. For generations, families across Bihar and Jharkhand have made this pressed wheat cookie as a sacred offering to the Sun God. The ritual begins when the dough of fresh whole wheat, melted jaggery, and pure desi ghee is kneaded by hand and shaped in carved wooden molds called sancha — leaving the beautiful imprinted pattern that makes every Thekua instantly recognisable.
At BihariPakwan Foods, we honour this tradition exactly as it has always been. No shortcuts, no substitutions. We use the same kneading technique, we have our own inhouse molds, the same slow fry in pure desi ghee or refined oil that gives Thekua its signature crunch and aroma.
Whether you grew up eating Thekua at your grandmother's home during Chhath, or you are discovering this flavour for the first time, every bite carries the warmth of a tradition that is over five hundred years old.
When to Enjoy
Chhath Puja prasadFestival gifting boxesEvening chai companionWedding return giftsSending home taste to Biharis living away
What is thekua?
Thekua is a pressed, fried sweet from Bihar and Jharkhand, made from whole wheat flour, jaggery and fat. The dough is shaped in a carved wooden mould called a sancha, which leaves the pattern that makes every thekua instantly recognisable. It is firm and crunchy, sweet from jaggery rather than refined sugar, and it keeps well without refrigeration, which is part of why it travels so easily.
The same sweet is written in several ways. You will see thekuwa and thekwa as often as thekua, and ठेकुआ in Hindi. It is best known as the prasad of Chhath Puja, when families make it as an offering to the Sun God, and the tradition is described as more than five hundred years old. Today thekua is also a festival gift, an evening chai companion and a taste of home for Biharis living far from Bihar.
How we make our thekua
We make thekua the traditional way. The dough is whole wheat flour, natural jaggery, freshly ground green cardamom and just enough water to bind, kneaded by hand and pressed in our own moulds. The pieces are then fried slowly, which gives thekua its signature crunch and aroma. There is no refined sugar, no dalda and no preservatives.
The wheat flour is stone-ground for texture, the cardamom is freshly ground, and the jaggery is natural, with no refined sugar anywhere in the dough.
You choose the fat the thekua is fried in. Both versions use the same dough; only the fat changes.
Desi ghee: whole wheat flour, pure desi ghee, natural jaggery, green cardamom and water.
Refined oil: whole wheat flour, refined oil, natural jaggery, green cardamom and water.
Desi ghee or refined oil?
Desi ghee is the pre-selected type. The refined oil version keeps longer: 45–60 days, against 15–20 days for desi ghee. If you are ordering well ahead of a festival, or sending thekua to someone far away, the longer shelf life may decide it.
The desi ghee version contains milk as well as wheat; the refined oil version contains wheat. Please confirm on WhatsApp if you have allergies before you order.
Shelf life and storage
Thekua is made to be kept in the tin. Desi ghee thekua stays good for 15–20 days and refined oil thekua for 45–60 days. Store it in an airtight container at room temperature; no refrigeration is needed.
If you are ordering for a festival, count back from the day you need the thekua so that it is still within these days when it is served.
When to serve thekua
Thekua is the prasad of Chhath Puja. Our Chhath prasad thekua page explains how to order for the festival, and what to know before you do.
It is also an evening chai companion, a wedding return gift and a way to send the taste of home to Biharis living away. For festival gifting boxes, see our gift hampers.
Because thekua keeps without refrigeration, it is also an easy gift to send to family in another town, and a sensible thing to keep in the tin for guests.
Delivery across India
We deliver thekua across India and confirm delivery timing for your pincode on WhatsApp. The details are on our shipping and delivery page.
Classic Homemade Thekua: the details
Ingredients
Refined oil: Whole Wheat Flour, Refined Oil, Natural Jaggery, Green Cardamom, Water
Desi ghee: Whole Wheat Flour, Pure Desi Ghee, Natural Jaggery, Green Cardamom, Water
Available weights
250gm and 500gm
Price
From ₹220, up to ₹480 depending on the type and weight
Availability
In stock
Shelf life
Refined oil: 45–60 days
Desi ghee: 15–20 days
Storage
Store in an airtight container at room temperature. No refrigeration needed.
Delivery
Delivered across India; we confirm delivery timing for your pincode on WhatsApp.
Thekua is a traditional Bihari sweet made from whole wheat flour, jaggery and fat, pressed in a wooden mould and fried. It is best known as the prasad of Chhath Puja.
Yes. They are different spellings of the same sweet.
Both are made the same way; only the fat differs. Desi ghee thekua stays fresh for 15–20 days and refined oil thekua for 45–60 days, so choose refined oil if it has to keep longer.
Desi ghee thekua lasts 15–20 days and refined oil thekua lasts 45–60 days. Store it in an airtight container at room temperature; no refrigeration is needed.
Yes. Thekua is the traditional Chhath prasad. We confirm the order cut-off and delivery timing for Chhath on WhatsApp.
Desi ghee thekua contains milk and wheat; refined oil thekua contains wheat. Please confirm on WhatsApp if you have allergies.
Yes, we deliver across India. We confirm delivery timing for your pincode on WhatsApp.
No. Our thekua is made without preservatives and without refined sugar.
What our customers say
Verified reviews from our customers on Google.
"The quality of the Thekua was excellent. Perfect balance of sweetness, texture, and traditional taste. Really enjoyed every bite!"
Rashmi Tiwary
Google review
"The thekua tasted like a delicious homemade cookie — unlike any cookie I've ever had before. And the mango and kathal pickle was absolutely amazing! It was so good that now no other pickle seems to compare."
Shipra Singh
Google review
"The desi food was very tasty and had an authentic homemade flavour. 🤗"
