Traditional and Meaningful - Try These Tasty Treats for Diwali Feast

It’s Diwali, and India is in the mood for celebration and festivities. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Gujarat to Assam and all other states and territories of India, Diwali is a festival celebrated with much fun and frolic. As auspicious a time as Diwali is, it also calls for a great feast.

When we talk of Diwali feasting, many dishes come to mind. Each community, region, and household have unique dishes traditionally cooked and eaten during Diwali week.

As we explore the culinary traditions of Deepawali, Deepawali Marundu, or Legyam needs a special mention. The concept of preparing a legyam during Diwali was born out of this dish's medicinal value. As the Diwali feast calls for a lot of sweets, snacks, and culinary extravaganza, in Tamil Nadu, this medicinal dish called Legyam is prepared. It is prepared out of soaked and grounded spices like coriander, long pepper, cumin seeds, caraway seeds, cardamom, cloves, black pepper and dry ginger, slowly cooked with an equal amount of Jaggery and ghee. The resulting sweet and spicy ghee-laden dish aids digestion and prepares the gut for the onslaught it is about to receive. This herbal dish is worth trying this Diwali to keep you ready and prepared for many other delicious sweets and snacks the festival of Diwali will offer.

Choddo Shaak

Laddus and barfis are commonly prepared | Freepik

Diwali is celebrated on the day Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya with His wife Sita and His Brother Laxman after defeating Ravan and spending 14 years in exile. Such an auspicious day demands sweets to be consumed, and what better than the traditional sweet dish of Lord Ram’s home state, Uttar Pradesh. ‘Balushahis’, ‘Ladoos’, ‘Gujiyas’, ‘Barfis’, ‘Longlatta’, ‘Malpua’, and ‘Kalakand’ would be some of the delicious sweet dishes to choose from.

Lassi or Thandai

One day before Diwali, Naraka Chaturdashi is celebrated. It was the day when Lord Krishna killed Narakasur (Demon) and freed 16000 women from his captivity. ‘Kesari Lassi’ or ‘Thandai’, both famous beverages from Lord Krishna’s birthplace, Mathura, would be ideal to enjoy on this day. ‘Rabri’, ‘Peda’, and ‘Nariyal Ladoos’ would be some delicious additions to the feast.

Shashkuli

It is believed, as per scriptures, that Lord Ram loved a spiralled dish called ‘Shashkuli’. Many believe it to be an ancestor of modern-day Jalebi; Thus, consuming ’Jalebis’ during festivals is considered auspicious. Although a dish as delicious as ‘Jalebi’ is always on the Wishlist of food lovers, eating it during the happy Diwali festival will bring joy and satisfaction.

Another derivative of ‘Shashkuli’ (Spiral Dish) is a snack called ‘Chakli’ or ‘Murukku’, made of rice flour and urad dal. Chakli is thus another popular food item consumed during Diwali.

Diwali is the time for festivities and feasting; everyone wishes to be happy and bring happiness to others. People gift sweets to each other and invite friends for elaborate feasts; this is a time when everyone is in a happy mood and wishes to eat their favourite foods. So, choose your favourite sweet dishes, be it a ‘Jalebi’ or ‘Ladoo’, snacks or beverages, have a gala time, and enjoy the festivities!

I wish you all a very happy and prosperous Diwali!

Sidharth Bhan Gupta, Founder of 361 Degrees Hospitality, is a Hospitality / Food and Beverage / Restaurant Consultant.