Every year, devotees of Lord Krishna around the world celebrate his birth on Janmashtami with fervour and joy. According to Hindu mythology, Krishna was born in a prison in Mathura to his parents - Vasudev and Devaki, who were kept as prisoners by Devki’s brother Kandsa. The dark fortnight of Krishna Paksha saw the birth of the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that his father, Vasudev, crossed the raging Yamuna River to safely leave his newborn with his foster parents Nanda and Yashoda.
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Lord Krishna grew up around Mathura or Braj region, therefore, the celebration of Janmashtami is larger than life in this region. People bring him Ladoo Gopal (a small idol of Lord Krishna in the baby form), dress him up, feed him, and place him on a comfortable swing. Devotees treat him like a newborn, decorate the home temple, and prepare delicious delicacies. Here is a list of sweets that are offered to Lord Krishna on his birthday in Mathura-Vrindavan.
Rabri
Since Lord Krishna loved makkhan or white butter, most of the sweets offered to him were milk-based only. Rabri is among those delights prepared by thickening the milk, flavouring it with aromatic spices like cardamom and garnishing with nuts. Rabri with falooda is a popular Indian street food. On the occasion of Janmashtami, it is served in small earthen pots that add earthy notes to the sweet dish.
Kheer
Janmashtami celebrations in Mathura-Vrindavan also call for the preparation of kheer. Rice or vermicelli are cooked in a concoction of milk and sugar. The milk is boiled and reduced in volume. Cardamom, saffron, and nuts are added to the recipe to make it more delicious and nutritious. Some people even make the idol bath in kheer if they do not prepare panchamrit at home.
Balushahi
Balushahi is a deep-fried sweet dish that also becomes a part of the festive spread. It is made with refined flour which is later deep-fried in ghee and soaked in sugar syrup. It boasts a crispy crunch and delicate insides. Some shop vendors would add nuts and natural aromatic spices to make the sweet lip-smacking dish.
Peda
Peda is also a milk-based sweet that is made by combining milk powder, condensed milk, and some nuts. The creamy and melt-in-the-mouth texture elevates the experience, and you cannot find more delicious peda anywhere else but in Mathura. It is also offered to Lord Krishna on Janmashtami.
Ghewar
Since the birth of Lord Krishna was during monsoon, ghewar is also offered to the deity. It is a monsoon delight in which the batter made from maid is deep-fried to make a disc featuring a complex web-like structure. It is later dipped in sugar syrup and often garnished with milk cream, nuts, chocolate, and a variety of other mouth-watering ingredients.
Gopalkala
Named after Lord Krishna’s name Gopal, gopalkala is a dish prepared using poha, cucumber, sugar, yoghurt, and coconut. It is topped with pomegranate seeds, coriander leaves, and green chillies. The sweet, savoury, and spicy notes make this a delightful part of the festive spread.
Panjeri
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Many devotees also prepare panjeri at home to offer to Lord Krishna on Janmashtami. Since many observe fast on this day, they can also savour this offering comprising sugar, ghee, dry fruits, and edible gum. It is believed to be a rich source of nutrition, and hence, offered to God on his birthday.
Makkhan Mishri
Lord Krishna’s favourite dish is considered makkhan or white butter. It is believed that he used to steal it from neighbours’ homes when he was a kid. Freshly churned makkhan is mixed with sweet mishri or sugar crystals are offered to God as a symbol of feeding a child his favourite sweet on a special occasion.