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Diwali, the festival of lights, is just around the corner, with celebrations set for November 12, 2023. It celebrates Lord Ram's return with Sita after 14 years of exile. Diwali's allure extends beyond the radiant diyas and Rangoli, encompassing a delectable spread of traditional foods. While sweets like Kaju Katlis and Ladoos take centre stage, Maharashtra adds a unique twist with its Faral. Unlike the predominantly sugary treats found elsewhere, Maharashtrian Diwali feasts feature a delightful mix of sweet and savoury snacks, making it a distinct and cherished part of the festival, showcasing the diversity of India's culinary traditions.
What is Faral?
Faral is a wonderful culinary custom that takes prominence during Diwali celebrations in Maharashtra. Faral is a wonderful collection of delicious sweet and savoury snacks that are lovingly shared with guests and neighbours. Although these treats were traditionally made at home, nowadays, many people choose to purchase them from stores. In Faral, you can find a delicious assortment of treats such as ladoos, crescent-shaped karanjis, shankarpa;e soaked in ghee, chivda or poha, and crispy chaklis, to name a few. These snacks are not just tasty, but they also stay fresh for a longer time, which makes them ideal for sharing during the festive season.
HomeChef Vandana Jerajani from goodhomepickle shares that the purpose of making these snacks is to nourish the body with ghee and dry fruits, while also getting ready for the upcoming change in seasons. During the Diwali cleaning and celebrations, these snacks come in handy as they provide fuel and energy. They help hosts to serve their guests promptly and efficiently. In the past, our ancestors used to follow these practices in order to adjust to the different seasons and make the most out of their time and celebrations. It is believed that eating faral snacks, which can last for 1-2 months, can help the body adapt to seasonal changes and maintain good health throughout the year. When you enjoy these homemade snacks in reasonable amounts, they give you a boost of energy without making you feel overly full. Plus, ingredients like besan are great for getting your body ready for the upcoming colder months in India after Diwali. In Maharashtrian Diwali celebrations, Faral beautifully combines the essence of tradition and practicality.
Image credit:GoodHomePickle By Vandana
She also adds that in Maharashtra, the celebration of Diwali begins with Choti Diwali, also known as 'Narak-Chaturdashi.' This day celebrates the victory of Lord Krishna over the evil demon king Narakasura. Families have a special tradition where they crush a bitter green berry called 'Kareet' with their feet and they keep it on a chauraha (meaning 4 lanes, a centre point leading to four lanes). This act represents the defeat of Narakasura and teaches the importance of experiencing life's challenges before enjoying its rewards. After that, everyone starts feasting. Vandana says, that while these traditions are fading away with the fast-paced lives, she concentrates on preparing faral at home and letting people enjoy them through her brand and still have the fun of festivities with home-cooked flavours.
5 Different Types Of Farals To Try
Chivda
Chivda is a snack recipe that has been enjoyed by many people all through time. This recipe combines the sweet and simple flavours of fried cashews, golden raisins, rice poha, peanuts, and coconut slices to create a deliciously sweet and savoury snack. People typically enjoy chivda as a breakfast dish and often have it with a side of green chutney. It is apopular snack during Diwali. It's not only simple to prepare, but it also has a delicious taste.
Chakli
Chakli is a delicious snack that originates from India. It's a snack that has a spiral shape and a surface covered in spikes. Chakli is usually prepared using a combination of rice flour and besan. There are different variations of this, depending on the types and amounts of flours that are used.
Shankarpali
Shankarpali is a popular snack in Maharashtra that holds a special place in the hearts of many. It is particularly cherished during festive occasions, where it adds a delightful touch to the festivities. In Gujarati, it is also known as Shakkarpara, while in Bengali, it is called Shakerpara. Shankarpali is a delightful dessert that is prepared using ingredients such as milk, sugar or salt, ghee, semolina, and maida. Shankarpali can have different flavours, such as sour, sweet, or salty. This snack has a great advantage - it can last for a long time without spoiling, making it convenient to store and enjoy whenever you please.
Karanji
It's like a Maharashtrian twist on Gujia, a scrumptous fried dumpling that's also known as ghugra. Just the mention of Karanj is enough to make a Maharashtrian heart instantly jump with happiness. You absolutely have to try these delicious crescent dough parcels made with whole wheat and semolina. They are stuffed with almonds and raisins, and then dipped in a sweet sugar syrup or honey. It's the perfect treat for the festive season!
Chorafali
Chorafali uses besan and urad dal flour hence it is gluten free. It's quite similar to papad in terms of texture, flavour, and way of preparation. The considerable amount of particularly spicy masala and the accompanying chutney make it impossible to refuse.
