- Time has come around again for one of the most celebrated
and pompously enjoyed festivals of the Indian subcontinent.
Diwali is back.
- Though I have covered quite a few of the sweet dishes and
savouries prepared specially for diwali, there are so many tasty
crunchies prepared with special fervour and enthusiasm for this
occasion.
- As you must be knowing, this festival is also known as the
'festival of lights', getting its name from the symbolic 'diyas'
or oil lamps lit in conatainers made from clay.
- Nowadays, many fancy shaped candles are also used. It is a
festival of colour, crackers, clothes, and rangolis (highly
intricate designs made in technicolour or white, powder called
rangoli powder These are generally made at the main entrance
of a home, and are believed to be ambassadors of good times
tocome.
- The `Laxmi Pooja' is one of the most significant rituals of
the diwali celebrations and all vernacular accounting starts
on this day.
- New ledgers are bought and a new accounting year is started.
- The boom of crackers forms background for at least 2 weeks
before and after diwali.
- It is also a time for feasting, hospitalising and exchanging
gifts like sweets, dryfruits, sarees, and other things. The
closest comparison that comes to mind, is that diwali is to
the Indians what christmas is to the christians.
- Some more dishes that I am listing this week are those based
on the festive occasion of diwali.
- This week is my previlege to present a few of the traditional
diwali fare, which in India, holds no less significance than
the season of Christmas.
- Most of the recipes I am presenting here are quite easy to
make, but tend to take long to make, since they are required
to be made with patience and time.
- Also, most of the items will keep for quite some time if stored
in dry airtight containers.
- Though my recipes generally do not require very precise measuring
and weighing, and are quite flexible to substituting ingredients,
(except in sweets, cakes, etc.) sweets generally require a little
care about such things.
- Since most of these recipes require time to dry out the cookies,
etc. I have not included this time in the making time given.
- Though the recipes in themselves are not complicated a little
frying skill is required, so if you are new to cooking, please
keep around someone with the experience for help.
- Most of these fried goodies will be a little soft on frying,
but become crunchy only after they cool. So do not overfry them,
or they will taste burnt.
- All the items given this week are dry in texture and can be
stored easily in dry airtight containers for a couple of weeks.
This is mainly due the tradition of exchanging delicacies between
friends and relatives during the diwali season.
- Wishing all my readers a VERY HAPPY DIWALI and all the best
always.
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