Spring is set to arrive, the onset of which will be celebrated with the festival of Vasant Panchami. On this day, we worship Goddess of Wisdom and Knowledge, Maa Saraswati. Food forms an integral part of this festival, right from the Bhog to the Goddess to the dishes prepared for all. And the dish prepared are simply nutrient rich, healthy, and all amazing. When prepared with spiritual devotion and utmost respect, they are believed to usher wisdom and abundance in all.
So, here are the traditional dishes from all over India that you can prepare for this year’s celebration of Basant Panchami. A treat to the tongue and tummy with some things sweet and some things with a little spice. Check out the best of dishes here below:
Kesar Bhaat
The Kesar bhaat, i.e. saffron rice is all things sweet for the festival of Basant Panchami. Plus, it is very easy to make. The Kesar bhaat is made up of soft Basmati rice, cardamom powder, cloves, cashews, almonds, pistachios, raisins all infused in ghee. A taste and blend that simply melts in your mouth. The saffron rice gets all the taste when you add the saffron to it. So just add this amazing mouth-watering dish to your Basant Panchami menu and experience the most of sweetness.
Kesari Kheer
Every Indian festival and occasion is got to have the sweet dish, the sweetest of all – Kheer. How can it not be on the festival of Basant Panchami? The creamy rice pudding is not like the ordinary days on Basant Panchmi. It has got the golden shade of saffron, looking quite unique in the bowl. The saffron kheer, i.e. the Kesari kheer is made with milk, sugar or jaggery, saffron and all kinds of dry fruits as well as nuts. In some parts of the country, devotees also add sweet pumpkin (meethi kaddu) for added nutrition. The Kesari Kheer is a symbol of purity and devotion.
Malpua
Basically a breakfast dish, the malpua is also eaten as a dessert in the eastern part of the country. You can call it as the Indian version of a pancake. It is amazingly delicious and flavorsome. Malpua is made with fennel seeds, semolina, milk, khoya, yoghurt and even some fruits. You can serve the malpua with sugar syrup or with rabdi. The festive delight is also served on Diwali, Holi and during Navratri. So just enjoy the crisp, the thickness and the fluffiness of the Malpua this Basant Panchami.
Boondi ke laddoo
This yellow sweet ball- Boondi ke laddoo is a must on the occasion of Basant Panchami. And is the most essential for Bhog offering to Maa Saraswati. It is made up of gram flour batter which is then deep-fried into tiny droplets, i.e. the boondi. Later on it is coated with sugar syrup (the chasni). The boondi is known to reflect joy and prosperity. It is loved by everyone, especially the kids who savor it very well.
Rajbhog
This traditional yellow sweet hails from Bengal. It is made with paneer with stuffing of pistachio and almonds. Rajbhog is a quintessential in Indian festivals, weddings and other occasions. The cardamom powder, almonds, pistachios when mixed with saffron adds to the taste. The yellow colored paneer balls of Rajbhog are the bigger version of Rasgulla. Just one ball in the mouth and the chasni completely melts in your mouth, offering you the ultimate sweetness.
Gujarati Kadhi
Gujarati Kadhi is nothing, just an easy variant of the common kadhi that you have been having since you were a kid. The Gujarati Kadhi is a sweet, tangy dish made up of yoghurt, gram flour, spices, herbs and seasonings. On the day of Basant Panchami, you can have it in your lunch or dinner as you like it with rice, chapatti or the bafla. Those who like the Punjabi kadhi pakoda, they are surely going to love the Gujarati Kadhi. The creamy dish is savored by everyone who just has it once!
Khichdi
Apart from the sweets, Khichdi has to be on top of the list when it comes to celebrating Basant Panchami. And especially in Bengal, where the Saraswati Puja is never complete without Khichdi in the bhog. It is a fully flavored and wholesome dish. The Khichdi is prepared with rice, lentils, along with vegetables like cauliflower, green banana and eggplant. It is eaten with papad, buttermilk, chutney and fried veggies. The Khichdi is light on the stomach, yet a completely fulfilling dish.
Kanchipuram Idli
How can we just leave the special variety of idli, that can be your munch in snack on the occasion of Basant Panchami. The Kanchipuram idli is spiced up with pepper, cumin and ginger powder. In the south, the idlis were also offered as Naivedyam to Bhagwan Vishnu. You can even start your day having the idli in breakfast along with sambhar and coconut chutney. An added tip is to steam the idli in mandharai leaves for a distinct flavor and taste. They just taste awesome, so do not forget to add the dish to your Basant Panchami menu.
Khaman Dhokla
The yellow soft and fluffy khaman dhokla has to be there when you need to munch on the perfect snack on the occasion. The curry leaves, mustard seeds and green chillies add to the spice. Season it with raw coconut and coriander leaves. And this dish from the Gujarati cuisine is simply loved by all. Even though, the khaman dhokla are two different dishes, yet nowadays they are just considered the same. So just incorporate this classic hit dish in your menu and you might leave everyone impressed!
Dal Pakwan
Dal Pakwan is a simple, authentic fulfilling and completely satisfying dish that you can have for the occasion. The Dal is the Chana dal (Bengal gram) and Pakwan is referred to the crispy fried Indian flatbread. You can flavor it with cumin seeds, carom seeds and crushed pepper. The Dal Pakwan is rich in aroma, flavor and absolute raw taste that you have been craving for all this while. It’s not only a breakfast dish, you can have it for lunch or dinner.
With these, you get going for a tasty, fun and memorable Basant Panchami with all the food that you can make. These yellow delicacies just mark for the perfect arrival of spring. Happy eating!