Dol Jatra: How Does Bengal Celebrate Holi; Chef Ranveer Brar Shares His Colourful Sandesh Recipe

It goes without saying that Holi is one of the biggest Indian festivals. Now in the movies and pop culture, you see people, smeared in Gulal, chasing each other with buckets full of water. The fun, frolic and dancing is indeed a big part of the festival, but since the festival is so big across the subcontinent, several regions have given it their own spin. In the twin towns of Barsana and Nandagoaon, Holi celebrations start with the worship of Lord Krishna, and then a peculiar tradition of ‘Lathmar’ Holi takes place. Here women chase men with a staff or a stick, the ritual is said to be tied with the banter of Radha and Krishna. When young Krishna, a resident of Nandgaon, wanted to spray colours on Radha, his beloved, a resident of Barsana, he and his friends were playfully greeted by sticks by Radha and her friends. The ‘Lathmar’ Holi is a symbolic recreation of the same.  

Bengal also has a few peculiar traditions associated with the festival. Dol Jatra, Dol Purnima or Deul is huge in Bengal, especially among the devotees of Krishna. An idol of Krishna and Radha are adorned in colourful clothes and smeared in gulaal or ‘abeer’. Further, the idol is taken out in a procession, the palanquin in which the idol is kept is also decked up with flowers, leaves and all things colourful. The procession is accompanied by music, dance, sound of conch shells and chanting. Drinks made of curd and butter are distributed, people colour each other with abir and play around swings in open courtyards.

The festival of Holi also coincides with the birthday of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1485–1533), the spiritual leader led the Vaishnava movement in Bengal, and devoted his life in worship of Radha and Krishna. The festival of Dol starts three days before the actual Dol Yatra, with Kirtan and bonfire, around which the idol of Krishna is carried several times.

Bengali Dol Yatra or Holi is incomplete without festive delicacies. And when it is festival time, it is 'Sandesh time' in every Bengali household. On occasion of Holi, Chef Ranveer Brar shares his Dui-coloured Sandesh or two-coloured Sandesh. The Sandesh also comes with a layer of chocolate, which makes it all the more irresistible.  

Dui Colored Sandesh For Holi 2022

Ingredients

• 350 grams Paneer
• 150 grams of Powdered sugar
• 250 ml Condensed milk

For Chocolate Layer

70 grams HERSHEY'S SPREADS Cocoa

100 grams HERSHEY'S COCOA Natural Unsweetened

For Coconut Layer

• 100 grams Desiccated coconut
• 1 teaspoon Rose Water

Equipment Needed

• 1 Non-stick pan
• 2 mixing bowls
• Aluminium foil

Method:

1. Heat a pan on medium flame and add in grated paneer, powdered sugar, condensed milk & give it a good mix till it reaches a smooth consistency. Now, add in almonds & remove them from the heat.
2. Divide the mixture into two separate bowls.
3. For the coconut layer - add freshly grated coconut, rose water and knead into a dough-like consistency.
4. For the chocolate layer - add chocolate spread and cocoa powder, knead and into a dough.
5. Now, take the coconut dough and form a long cylindrical shape & keep it aside.
6. Take the chocolate dough & roll it 2 inches thick.
7. Put the coconut dough on one corner of the rolled chocolate dough & roll it like a Swiss roll.
8. Take an aluminum foil, put the rolled dough & seal it tight. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
9. Now, remove the dough out of the aluminum foil & cut it into pieces.  Dui Colored Sandesh is now ready to serve.