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With this year's Ganesh Chaturthi falling on the 7th of September, every household is getting ready to welcome Lord Ganesha with gala festivities, scrumptious feasts, and holy chants. Among the various traditions followed during this propitious festival, food plays a vital role in bringing together members of the family. In the 'Pink City' of Jaipur, the festival is preceded by grand processions and lights, together with the preparation of traditional Rajasthani cuisine. Among these, an indispensable cuisine offered in Jaipur during this season is Dal Baati Churma, which is made with love in every household. Churma is a rich-flavoured cuisine with textures that play together, forming part of this meal enjoyed on this festive occasion. Be it wheat churma a little more classic or trying something new, here are five churma recipes that will make your Ganesh Chaturthi celebration a lot sweeter and warmer.
The Celebration in Jaipur
Ganesh Chaturthi in Jaipur is a sight to watch, with the city adorning festive hues and the fragrance of devotion in the air. The temples, especially those dedicated to Lord Ganesha, like the famous Moti Doongri Temple, become an epicentre of activity with thousands thronging for darshan. In homes, the day begins with early morning prayers and offerings to Lord Ganesha, seeking his blessings for prosperity and removal of obstacles. But the most important part of the celebration and that which is also enjoyed by one and all is the preparation of Dal Baati Churma, a traditional Rajasthani meal. The churma, made by crushing the baked baatis and mixing them with ghee and sugar, is not just any dessert but signifies the sweetness that Lord Ganesha brings into our lives. It gives the aromatic smell of ghee in the kitchen and gives a feeling of festivity; therefore, families together come to sit during this meal.
Wheat Churma
Wheat churma is one of the traditional and most favourite dishes on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, basically in Rajasthan. This wheat churma is prepared from coarsely ground wheat flour, which is fried to a golden brown colour and mixed with jaggery or sugar. It is then further enriched with more amounts of ghee, cardamom, and often a sprinkling of nuts such as almonds and cashews. These all combine to form a sweet and crunchy delicacy, which goes perfectly with the savoury baati. The ghee adds much richness to the churma and enhances the aroma, too, making it an irresistible treat during the festive season.
Besan Churma
Gram flour or besan churma is one variety of the sweet dish that gives people a little different taste from traditional churma. This variety is made of gram flour and hence possesses a different nutty flavour. The besan is roasted until deep golden brown in colour, giving out a warm, earthy aroma. Then it is mixed with sugar or jaggery and ghee until crumbly. Besan churma can also be made into the forms of laddoos, thereby making it quite versatile and worth offering to Lord Ganesha. The nutty taste of besan coupled with the sweetness of jaggery produces this filling churma that is truly nourishing.
Moong Dal Churma
Moong dal churma can be made as a pretty healthier option. This churma is made by roasting moong dal or yellow lentils until it is aromatic, followed by grinding it into a coarse powder. The ground moong dal mixed with jaggery, ghee, and a hint of cardamom leads to a sweet and nutritional churma. This moong dal churma, other than being easy on the stomach, is a good source of protein as well. This really makes it a wholesome addition to your Ganesh Chaturthi feast. Earthy flavours of moong dal merged with the sweetness of jaggery provide an exciting taste experience.
Almond and Pistachio Churma
Almond and pistachio churma are for those who want to give a really royal touch to their churma. It has the goodness of almonds and pistachios crushed into it, which adds a great texture and rich nutty flavour. It can be prepared with wheat as its base or even besan, but the addition of these nuts makes it a completely different deal altogether in terms of indulgence. Sweetened with sugar or jaggery, bound together by ghee, it is the ultimate prasad that Lord Ganesha would wish for, so will be almond and pistachio churma to your taste buds. A right amalgamation of rich, creamy almonds with subtle, earthy nuts-what more could make this churma a perfect festive treat?
Bajra Churma
Bajra churma or pearl millet is a traditional Rajasthani favourite during Ganesh Chaturthi. Coarsely pounded, bajra exudes a rustic charm-essentially coarse and wholesome in texture-and is mixed with wheat or semolina to give it that characteristic feel. Sweetness in churma could be given through either jaggery or sugar, while ghee and cardamom provided the essential flavourings. Bajra churma has an inborn sweet taste and a somewhat coarse texture, acting as a perfect foil to the richness of Dal Baati. The nutty and earthy taste of bajra, combined with the sweetness of jaggery, makes for a nourishing yet delicious churma to satiate the festive spirit.
Ganesh Chaturthi indeed calls for joy, devotion, and a gourmet feast. In Jaipur, the festivity is celebrated with great enthusiasm, and food forms an integral part of the ritual. Rich flavours and comforting aromas, Dal Baati Churma is a major must-have dish in each household. Why not try something different this year with these varied churma recipes?
