The biggest Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva, Mahashivratri, is celebrated with great aplomb every year in the Hindu month of Phalgun. Legend says that Mahashivratri, literally meaning ‘the Great Night of Lord Shiva’, was when the deity was deeply angered and performed the Tandav dance for the first time. Another legend says that Mahashivratri commemorates the night when Lord Shiva married his chief consort, Devi Parvati.
Whatever the reason behind the origin of the festival might be, it is dedicated to the appropriate worship of Lord Shiva—so, naturally, it involves rules of ritual fasting and worship. Like any Hindu festival that includes a fast, the celebration of Mahashivratri is supposed to be completely Sattvik with a special focus on proper offerings for the deity. These include milk, dhatura flower, belpatra, sandalwood paste, yoghurt, honey, ghee and sugar. White is the auspicious colour for the occasion so clothes, foods and flowers of that colour can be offered to Lord Shiva—except coconut milk.
The fast for the Mahashivratri is a long and arduous thing to do, which is why people who are unwell, aged or pregnant are often asked to skip the fast. As per the Drikpanchang, the fast begins at the Brahma Muhurta or sunrise on the morning of Shivratri, and ends the next day before the Chaturdashi Tithi begins—making it a 24-hour-long fast.
As with any ritual Sattvik fast, the process is supposed to purify the body, mind and soul. And yet, for those who are not used to fasting for long durations of time, this one can lead to an energy deficit. This is the reason why breaking the fast with a Sattvik, nutrient-dense energy drink is perhaps the best thing to do. So, here’s a super-loaded Badam Milk recipe that will help you break your fast with the purest of foods while giving you the energy boost you’ll need. The recipe does not include sugar, instead depending on dry fruits and honey for the sweetness, making it healthier still.
Ingredients:
2 cups milk
10 almonds, soaked and peeled
3-5 walnut kernels
5 pistachios
3 cashews
6-8 raisins, soaked
5 dates, deseeded and chopped
2 cardamom pods, deseeded and crushed
2 tbsp honey
¼ cup makhanas, toasted
2 tsp rose petals, for garnish
½ tsp pumpkin seeds, for garnish
1 pinch saffron, optional
Method:
1. Place half cup of milk in the grinder along with the almonds, walnuts, pistachios, cashews, raisins and dates. Grind it into a fine paste.
2. Place the rest of the milk in a pot and let it heat up.
3. Add the crushed cardamom and saffron (if you’re using it).
4. Let the milk boil completely, then add the dry-fruit paste and mix well. Make sure the paste doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot or burn.
5. Keep stirring the pot until the raw smell of the nuts disappear completely.
6. Switch off the flame, then add the honey and makhanas. Mix well.
7. Serve the milk hot or cold with a generous sprinkling of rose petals and pumpkin seeds.