Makar Sankranti Specials !
Updated on Wednesday, Jan 11th 2012
The first Indian festival of the year 2012 is Sankat/ Sakat Chauth. This festival falls on the fourth day of Hindi month Magh (माघ). On this auspicious day mothers fast whole day long for the well wishing of their kids. In Northern India, there is a tradition to make Tilkut for this festival. Please read the recipe of Tilkut/ Tilkuta here.
The next festival is - Makar Sankranti - This festival is celebrated all over India in various forms (on or about 14th January) like, Lohri In Punjab, Pongal in South India, and Khichdi in North India...Makar Sankranti marks the transition of Sun into Makar rashi (Capricorn). This is also one of the harvest festivals. Many people also go for bathing in Holy river Ganga.
In North India, on this auspicious day, it is considered holy to donate a mix of Lentils (split moong dal) and rice called as Khichdi, desserts made with white and black sesame, ghee, etc. In North India the festival itself is known as Khichdi. There is also a tradition to donate/exchange 14 things by married women. It could be anything, like clothes, food, cosmetics, utensils or whatever comes in your budget.
While most of the other Indian festivals are based on lunar calender, this festival seems to be an exception - it is usual to celebrate Sankranti on 14 January.
As is usually the case, for this festival also, the food is based on the weather. Sankranti falls in the Hindi month Magh (माघ) , which is the coldest time of the year. The food/ grains used for this festival are warm in tendency like, sesame, black til, jaggery, flax seed, etc. Try out some of these traditional, festive, dishes............
Happy Sakat Chauth and Makar Sankranti !!!
Shuchi
Some other related recipes
Some Other Delicious Dessert Recipes
some photos for party planning and party organization/ bulk cooking!