FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

  Here's some inspiration for traditional Diwali

During Diwali, the Festival of Lights, people celebrate by indulging in a variety of traditional sweets and savory dishes. Here’s a list of popular foods consumed during Diwali:

Sweets (Mithai)

1. Ladoo: Round, ball-shaped sweets made from various ingredients like besan (gram flour), coconut, or boondi. They are often flavored with cardamom and garnished with nuts.                                                                                                         
2. Barfi: A dense sweet made from condensed milk and sugar, flavored with cardamom, and often topped with edible silver leaf (varak). Varieties include kaju (cashew) barfi and pista (pistachio) barfi.                                                                              
3. Gulab Jamun: Deep-fried dough balls made from khoya (milk solids), soaked in sugar syrup flavored with rose water and saffron.                                                                                              
4. Jalebi: A deep-fried spiral-shaped dessert soaked in sugar syrup, known for its crispy texture and sweet, syrupy taste.                      
5. Kheer: A creamy rice pudding made from milk, sugar, and rice, often flavored with cardamom and garnished with nuts and saffron.                                                                                             
6. Rasgulla: Soft, spongy cheese balls soaked in a sugar syrup, originating from Bengal.

Savory Snacks

1.Samosa: Deep-fried pastries filled with spiced potatoes, peas, or minced meet.                                                  

2.Chakli (Murukku): A crispy, spiral-shaped snack made from rice flour and lentil flour, deep-fried until golden brown.

3.Mathri: A flaky, spiced cracker made from flour, commonly eaten with pickles or chutneys.

4.Namak Pare: Crispy, diamond-shaped fried snacks made from flour and lightly spiced with ajwain (carom seeds).

Festive Meals

1. Pulao or Biryani: Fragrant rice dishes cooked with vegetables, spices, and sometimes nuts or dried fruits.                                      
2. Chole Bhature: A combination of spicy chickpea curry (chole) served with fried bread (bhature).                                                   
3. Paneer Dishes: Paneer (Indian cottage cheese) dishes like Shahi Paneer or Paneer Butter Masala, rich and creamy curries that are a festive favorite.                                                                       
4. Poori with Aloo Sabzi: Fried bread (poori) served with spiced potato curry (aloo sabzi).

Beverages

• Thandai: A cooling drink made from milk, almonds, and spices like saffron and cardamom, sometimes enjoyed during the festivities.
• Chai (Tea): Spiced tea made with milk and a blend of cardamom, ginger, and other warming spices.

The foods consumed during Diwali vary by region, but sweets hold special significance as they represent the joy and prosperity that people wish for in the coming year. Families also exchange boxes of sweets with friends and relatives as a symbol of goodwill.