Holi, also called the festival of colours, is a very important Hindu festival celebrated just after the day of Holika Dahan. The preparation for Holi starts many days before the actual day of the festival. It is one of those festivals where all the family members come together to celebrate the festival and gorge on delicious food.
There are a lot of staple foods associated with the occasion of Holi. This includes kachori, gujia and bhaang. However, it's not mandatory to stick to these dishes and beverages to celebrate Holi. One can go for other traditional drinks that are consumed by people on the occasion of Holi in different parts of the country. In this article, one can find a complete list of Holi drinks that can easily become a part of one's Holi party menu.
* Kanji Vada
Kanji Vada is a traditional Rajasthani delicacy that is made by making some fritters from urad dal, putting them in water, and mixing some spices in the mixture. This is a hybrid delicacy that is both eaten and drunk by people, and it is considered extremely healthy for the gut because of its digestive benefits. One can easily make it more tangy and savoury by adding some tamarind and cumin seed powder.
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* Jaljeera
Holi generally falls during springtime when days start to become hot. Also, playing Holi throughout the day can be extremely exhausting, and one needs a serious dose of hydration. In this case, making a rejuvenating drink like jaljeera can be a great option. Jaljeera is a classic Indian beverage that is prepared by using mint, leaves, jaggery, tamarind, pulp, cumin powder, chaat masala, and some iced water. This drink is full of a lot of pungent flavours that are refreshing and soothing.
* Kesar Doodh
Kesar Doodh is a very famous beverage that is consumed widely in the northern part of India, especially in areas like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. It is subtly flavoured milk that has very light flavours of saffron, cardamom, pistachios, and almonds. It is a drink that is enjoyed by people of all age groups and is also very beneficial for one's health. The healthy drink will not only provide energy to play Holi throughout the day but will also give one's stomach relief from the otherwise heavy food that is consumed throughout the day.
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* Flavoured Lassi
Lassi is another flavourful drink from north India that is believed to have originated from Punjab. It is made by using some fresh curd and water. Lassi is a very versatile beverage and can be made in both sweet and salty forms. People who like to have salty lassi can simply add some cumin seed powder and salt. To make sweet lassi, one can simply add white sugar and jaggery to it and even use flavouring ingredients like mangoes, strawberries, or cardamon to give that extra flavour. Curd has a lot of good bacteria for the stomach that helps in providing relief and avoiding problems like constipation or inflammation.
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* Dry Fruits Thandai
Thandai is a special drink which is very famous in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and is specially consumed during the occasion of Holi. This drink is also made from curd and by using a handful of nuts like pistachios, cashew nuts, and raisins, along with poppy seeds and sugar petals. For sweetness, one can either add some white sugar or jaggery as per their preference. The best way to drink this scrumptious beverage is by putting in a lot of ice cubes. One can also experiment with different types of flavours by adding fruits or seeds to see what they like the most.
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* Sharbat
Sharbat is a beverage that was introduced in India by the Mughals in the early 16th century. After its introduction, it subsequently became famous throughout the whole Indian subcontinent, and people started making it using different types of ingredients. The drink, which has Persian origins is now one of the very famous and traditional drinks of India. One can make this drink by using sugar, water, rose extract or syrup, and some honey. Some people like to add a bit of milk to the mixture of all these condiments to make the drink a little thicker.
* Aam Panna
Aam panna is also a very famous summer drink in India that is made by using unripe green mangoes to make a sweet and sour drink. The drink generally has a thick consistency as compared to regular drinks and a light green colour. Other than adding unripe mango pulp, a lot of mint leaves and some sugar syrup are also added to attain a perfect balance of flavours. A glass of aam panna tastes heavenly, especially on hot summer days.