HAPPY DIWALI !

Deepavali...the Festival of Lights 

content credit : Sai Priya

"Happiness is in the air,

       It's Deepavali everywhere.

An occasion to celebrate Life,

     Let's show some love and Light."

Deepavali, the Hindu festival of lights is celebrated with a great joy in every Autumn. It signifies light over darkness, spirituality over evil, Knowledge over Ignorance and Hope over Despair.

It is not limited to bursting of crackers, fireworks on the black canvas of night, exchange of lip smacking snacks and traditional sweets, but also decorating own house with flowers and beautiful colours of Rangoli art. Millions of Diyas are lit which enlighten the spiritual land of Temple city as if  Goddess Kali carrying the garland of pure and divine souls. The divine light of Deepavali spread into lives enhancing peace, prosperity and happiness. 

There are many reasons people celebrate Deepavali and the story of Prince Rama and Sita is one of them, often recited to children over the festival period. .  Upon completion of 14 years in exile, Ram, Sita and Lakshman returned home to find the entire city waiting for them! The streets were decorated with flowers and there was spree of happiness everywhere. Oil lamps were lit to guide them on their way home after the victory of King Ram.

The Odia family remembers their forefathers by burning jute stalks singing the ritual song  "Bada badua Daaka"...

Bada badua ho,

andhara re aasa,

alua re jaa

Mahaprasad khai 

Baaisi pahaacha re gada gadu thaa.

Translating into English... 

"O forefather 

come to us in the dark evening,

we light your way to heaven.

Having Mahaprasad may you attain salvation

On the 22 steps of Jagannath temple."

How can we miss to talk about the important part of celebration "Festive Food !? "

Generally people start preparation before a week, delicious desserts like karanji, sandesh, ladoos  and savoury snacks like Murukku, Sev, Nimkee are special treat on Dipavali evening at everyone house.

Here sharing recipe of a traditional dish Karanji/Gujiya

Preparation Time 1 hour 

Yield 20 piece

INGREDIENTS 

2 cups Maida ,1 tbsp Semolina ,1 tbsp Clarified butter, 1/4 tsp Salt ,2 cups Grated Coconut ,2 tbsp Roasted white seasame seed ,3/4 cup Jaggery, 2 tbsps Roasted pea-nut, 1/2 tsp Cardamom powder, Oil to fry  

STEPS

In a bowl mix the maida, semolina and the salt.Add ghee and mix it well. You will get a coarse texture. Add water and prepared a soft dough.Cover the dough with a damp cloth and keep it aside. Start preparing the filling. In a pan add grated coconut, poppy seed, jaggery and cook at medium flame for 5 minute. Add cardamom powder. Grind peanut to a coarse powder. Add this to coconut and cook for 2 minute. The filling should be dry .Switch of the flame and let the mixture cool a bit. Now divide dough into 20 equal part .Roll each dough into a circular disc. spread sufficient filling on it. Fold it as half-circle and seal it properly. You can see the below picture. To seal the edge, you can grease the edge with a little water using your finger. It will help you to seal it properly. Heat sufficient oil in a kadhai, fry prepared stuffed dumplings at medium flame. Adjust the heat , don't fry it at high temperature .It generally takes 2 to 3 minute for each batch to fry .Then only the outer skin will be crunchy. You can keep them at air-tight container for 4 to 5 day at room temperature.

KUMAR PURNIMA

Content credit : Sai Priya

As the beautiful full moon appears in the sky, unmarried girls in joyous mood start singing the folk song .....

"Kuaanra Punei Jahna Go Phula Baula Beni,

Kuanri Jhianka Apurva Ananda

Puchi Khelibaku Mana Go Phula Baula beni…"

And this happen only on the day of Kuaanra Purnima, the autumn festival which is one of the most popular and important festival of Odisha. 'Kumar' or 'Kartikeya', the handsome Son of Shiva was born on this day. So the unmarried girls worship Sun and Moon seeking a handsome young husband. Also in villages it's a saying the sooner you see the moon the more younger and handsome your husband will be.

So Girls on this day start their day doing ‘Janhi Osa’ in the early morning, offering Sun with 7 type of flowers and palmful of ‘khae’ with ‘janhi’, banana, coconut, betel nut etc.These offerings is termed as "Anjuli".
After this they wait till evening for the Moon to rise. The main activity during the day time is playing a local game called "Puchi".

The full moon is the center of attraction in this festival. Girls raise the ‘Chanda chakata’ and pray to the moon. The moon is also synonymous to a handsome husband that the girls are seeking for themselves. It is the main attraction of this festival and in villages they held competition too..

In the evening Girls prepare a bhog called ‘Chanda chakata’ which is mixture of ‘khaee’, jaggery, banana, coconut, ginger, sugarcane, cucumber, ghee, honey and cow milk.There is a particular way to serve that too. So on a winnowing fan (kula) they place this mixture in a half-moon shape form and offer to the Moon God asking a blessing for a handsome and attractive Husband like Kartikeya.

Odia celebration is always incomplete without pithas , khira Gaintha is a must. While Manda Pitha, chakuli are a regular affair on festive season in Odisha.

Here the recipe for "Manda Pitha"

INGREDIENTS

For the Dough

2 cup Rice Flour
1 cup Water - + 2 tbs
1/2 tsp Salt For Stuffing
1 cup Coconut grated
1/2 cup Jaggery powder
1/2 cup Roasted peanut
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Black pepper powder


STEPS

• Boil 2 cup water in a heavy bottomed pan.Take 2 tbs water in a bowl,add 1 tsp rice powder to it and make a thick solution. Add this solution to boiling water.
• Let the water come to boiling point. Then add salt,remaining  rice flour at once and stir it continuously at medium flame for 3-4 min. Switch off the flame and cover the pan with a lid.
• Let it sit for 10 minute.Once cooled,Start kneading the mixture to form a dough.It should be soft . Make small balls like chapati ball.
• Take a ball and press with your finger tip at center and make a hole into it to pour the filling. Stuff the balls with prepared coconut mixture .Close it properly with wet fingers and give shape as you like.
• After that cook those balls in a steamer for 15-20 minute.

Cool and enjoy them as it is.

SUBHA MAHALAYA :-)

Content credit : Sai Priya     30th Sept 2016   +Yummyies  exclusive

The Moment the lissome long "Kasatandi" flower began to sway in the breeze, we soon realize the Sharadostava is approaching at the door. And the countdown starts from the day of MAHALAYA, when one starts preparing for the five days grand celebration with family and friends.

The last day of Mahalaya Paksha, the new moon day, is considered as the most important day in the year for performing obsequies and rites. On this day, it is believed that ancestors leave their abode and come down to the world of mortals and occupy the houses of their descendants. Mythology says due to a boon from Lord Yama, if one offers prayers to ancestors on this day it reaches the departed souls immediately and directly which in return brings a lot of blessing for a healthy and wealthy life. Charity in the form of food is important during this observance. There is a story from the Mahabharat which explain the significance of food offering.

KARNA, the renowned hero when left the mortal coil he had done all kind of charity in terms of gold and silver, there was no food. He prayed to the god of death. So, he was sent back to earth for fourteen days, to make up for this. He fed Brahmins and the poor, offered them oblations of water for fourteen Days. On his return to the Swarg-lok, he had food in plenty. It is these fourteen days that are commemorated in the Mahalaya Paksha. Mahalaya Amavasya is a special day dedicated to making an offering to express our gratitude to all the previous generations of people who have brought us & contributed to our life.

From this day Navaratra celebration starts in many parts of India with great enthusiasm and spirituality. While North-Indian People observe fasting during Nine days, people in Odisha, west Bengal mostly celebrate from the 6th days of Puja (Sasthi).

While we are talking about this grand Indian Festival, how can we miss talking about the important part of any celebration, FOOD ?

People who observe Navaratri fasting they restrict their diet making a noticeable change into their usual diet. Wheat is replaced with gluten free buckwheat, amarnath flour which meet the nutritional requirement of our body and at the same time are light on our digestion. Even unprocessed rock salt - sendha namak is used over the regular iodized table salt.

While the city of Kolkata where the concept of Sarbajanin Puja gave birth don't restrict their food in any way. In fact you will find small food stalls near Punja Pandals where a big queue of happy faces just soaking in the party spirit.  Mughlai Paratha, Macher-chop, mutton cutlet and the popular Kolkata kathi roll can be surely found during pandal hopping in the city. And how can one miss the spongy Rosogolla at the end. 

In Odisha as the beats of ‘Dhak’ resound in various parts, the festival can be witnessed primarily across Cuttack, Balasore and Bhubaneswar throughout the five days starting from Sasthi. The theme of the generic puja pandals and the lights displayed on the streets make these places truly alive. It really seems like there is a divine presence for the five days and Maa Durga has arrived on the earth to bless us with prosperity and wealth.

Let's pray for peace of all on this auspicious day of Mahalaya...

Ya devi sarvabhuteshu shanti - rupena samsthita

Namas tasyai, namas tasyai, namas tasyai namo namah