The consecration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is fast approaching and people from all over India are pitching in to make the event one of the largest and most grand openings in the country’s history. The week-long event will begin on the 22nd of January and will draw crowds in the thousands for religious observance and celebration.
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To mark this event, Chef Vishnu Manohar from Nagpur has undertaken the monumental task of making 7000 kgs of special 'Ram Halwa' for the occasion. The celeb chef known for his live cooking classes and skill with fusion dishes will be making the signature sweet dish in a kadhai with a capacity of 12,000 litres. This is notthe first time Chef Manohar has undertaken such an epic cooking feat, as last year he cooked up 3,000 kgs of khichdi for the MP cultural festival.
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The kadhai's weight ranges from 1300 to 1400 kilograms, it is constructed with steel and features an iron central part to prevent burning during halwa preparation. It measures 10 feet by 10 feet, with a capacity of 12,000 litres, allowing the creation of 7,000 kilograms of halwa. A crane is necessary for lifting it. The spatula, weighing 10 to 12 kilograms, possesses holes for convenient cooking. (As explained by the chef to ANI)
He then added that the ingredients for this recipe consist of 900 kilograms of rava (semolina), 1000 kilograms of ghee (clarified butter), 1000 kilograms of sugar, 2000 litres of milk, 2500 litres of water, 300 kilograms of dry fruits, and 75 kilograms of cardamom powder.
This record feat isn’t the only way sweets are creeping into the spotlight at this event. The local besan laddu, called Hanumangarhi Laddu, was awarded a GI Tag ahead of the ceremony to boost its notoriety. There will also be 1 lakh Tirupati laddoos flown in for the occasion. Devotees are also going to be given elaichi dana and a prasad made with over 300 metric tons of aromatic rice from Chattisgarh will be prepared.
In addition to the many infrastructure improvements and new additions to the city designed to cater to the sharp rise in tourists, these events are sure to make the consecration a day to remember.