10 Indian festivals and their delicious food

India is a country which has boasts of contrasting people from different backgrounds, cultures, tradition, and religion. Every single day, a festival is celebrated in any part of India. Whenever the name of the festival comes, the first thing that strikes into our mind is the food. Yes, the mouth-watering delicious festival food. Indian festivals are incomplete without cooking traditional food. 10 Indian festivals and their delicious food. 

 Indian festivals and their delicious food

In this blog, I'm going to introduce to you the festivals of India. Yes, traditional festivals with their tempting and delicious food. Today I am going to tell you about 10 INDIAN FESTIVALS AND THEIR DELICIOUS FOOD.  

Here is the list of 10 Indian festivals and their delicious food:

1. Diwali

India is a land of festivals and Diwali is one of the most popular and important festivals of India. It is called as festivals of light and prosperity. Diwali marks the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana and the homecoming of Lord Rama after an exile of 14 years. It is also a symbol of the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil.

Diwali

On the day of Diwali, people worship Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi, and the god of wealth Kuber. People decorate their houses with lights, flowers, rangoli, lantern, and diyas. Diwali is also an occasion for visiting friends and relatives & exchanging gifts and bonbons with them.

Gulab Jamun

Kheer- Rice Pudding

Diwali is an occasion of eating and making sweets. Yes, Diwali is a day of spreading sweetness and positivity. People made different varieties of sweets like Gulab jamun, Rice pudding, Motichoor Laddu, Besan Laddu, Peda, etc.

Besan laddu

This festival of light brings peace, happiness, and prosperity to people. 

2. Holi

Holi is known as the festival of colors. This is one of the most important and colorful festivals in India. Holi is all about celebrating happiness with friends and family. People forget their troubles and indulge in this festival to celebrate brotherhood. Everyone celebrates Holi with the greatest fervor and enthusiasm. One the day before Holi, people perform a ritual called Holika Dahan. It symbolizes the burning of evils powers over good.

 

Holi

The next day of Holika is probably India's most colorful day. On this day, People get up in the morning and do worship to god. Then they dress in white clothes and play with colors. Those who celebrate this festival look forward to it every year to play with colors and have delicious food.

Thandai is a sweet creamy milk drink with a combination of different kinds of nuts and exotic spices such as cardamom, rose petals, and fennel. It is a special Holi drink.

Malpua

Gujiya and Malpua are the specific sweets of Holi. Dahi Bhalle is also made on this day. People celebrate this festival with sweets and sweetness.

Gujiya

Holi is all about spread love, happiness, and goodwill. This colorful festival unites people and removes all kinds of negativity from life.

3. Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi considered an important religious festival in India, it's a 10day long affair of fun festivities. Huge Ganesh idols are installed in homes or in public pandals. Pujas are performed throughout the 10day. Many cultural activities like singing and dancing, etc are organized during the celebration. On the last day of the festival is Visarjan. Visarjan is the immersion of the idols. 

Modak

Besan Laddu

Modak is the favorite sweets of Lord Ganesha. There are many varieties of Modak that are prepared during the festival. The Maharashtrian steamed modak is the most prominent Modaks of this fest. Apart from Modak, Besan laddu and Motichoor laddu are also made during the Ganesh Chaturthi.

4. Pongal

Pongal is a four-day harvest festival that is celebrated in South India. It is also known as Puthiyeedu in Tamil Nadu. Puthiyeedu represents the first harvest of the year. The English calendar Pongal starts from January 13 and ends on January 16th. 

Pongal Festival

The first of Pongal is called Bhogi. On this day people throw all the old belongings and celebrate new possessions. All the old belongings are thrown into a bonfire which is light in the early morning. The second day is called as Thai Pongal. It is also known as Makara Sankranthi in most parts of the country. On this day all the people decorate their house with Kolam a traditional floral design that is done mainly with colored powders, banana, and coconut leaves and prepares Pongal. The third day is called Maatu Pongal. It is related to the cattle. On this day Jallikkattu and taming wild bull games are played. Women and girls feed birds and pray for their brother's safety and well-being. The last day is known as Kaanum Pongal. Kaanum means a visit. On this day all the family members organize a get-together.

Pongal Festival Food

The food has a special significance in Pongal. The making of sweet rice is considered the most meaningful part of this festival. It is prepared with a variety of ingredients like rice, dal, jaggery, dry fruits, sugar, and milk. All of these are always cooked in a new clay pot and boil for several hours. And then it is offered to God of Sun and later partaken by each family member as holy offerings (prasad).

5. Onam

Onam is one of the significant festivals of Karela. It is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Chingam which is the ending of August and the beginning of September. Onam is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, who is believed to come back to visit his people on the Thriuvonam day.

Onam Rangoli

All Keralites celebrate Onam with great pleasure and joy. Pookkalams, the exotic floral designs are drawn on the entrance of the house to welcome King Mahabali. Events such as Boat race, clap dance and Kathakali dance, etc are organized.

Onam Food- Onasadhya

The exotic traditional cuisine is prepared on the occasion of Onam. The whole prepared food is called Onasadhya which is served in banana leaves. Rice is the main course that is served with other dishes which include different types of curries such as sambar, rasam, papadum, yogurt, etc.

Payasam

Payasam is sweet and tempting porridge which is prepared on the eve of Onam. And many other desserts and pickles are served.

Thus, Onam is a typical and traditional festival of Karela. They celebrate this festival with fresh vigor and zeal.

6. Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti is also known as the kite festival. It is a popular Hindu festival and celebrated on the 14th of January. In Uttar Pradesh, it is known as Khichiri and In Gujrat, it is known as Uttarayan. Makar Sankranti is a harvest festival. It is celebrated in the mark the arrival of spring. The festival is dedicated to the God of the Sun. Peoples fly kites in the sky. This is done to please the god of the sun.

Gajak

This festival is incomplete without sweets made from sesame (til) and jaggery. People also made gajak, chikki, etc from sesame and jaggery. Sesame sweets are traditionally eaten in India. It is very delicious and helps in maintaining good health. 

Til Ke Laddu

Chikki

On the affair of Makar Sankranti, people offer wheat, sesame, black gram, and jaggery to god and needy peoples. It is believed that Makar Sankranti spread the message of wealth and unity.

7. Lohri

India is a country rich in unity in diversity where different types of people live together. People all over the world celebrate the festivals of one another and respect their traditions and customs.

Lohri is a popular festival of Punjab which is celebrated on 13th January. It is believed that after Lohri, the days become short and the nights become long. 

Lohri Bonfire

Bonfire is the main tradition of Lohri. People gather around the bonfire and throw sweets, puffed rice, popcorn into the flames. Also, they sing and dance on cultural songs. There is puja, involving parikrama around the fire and distribution of prasad. This symbolizes a prayer to Agni for abundant crops and prosperity.

Lohri prasad

After the ritual of the bonfire, they have holy offerings of Lodhi such as til, gajak, jaggery, peanuts, popcorn, etc. The traditional dinner with Makki ki roti and sarso ka saag are quintessential. 

Makki ki Roti aur Sarso ka Saag

Lohri is more of a community festival as people gather around the bonfire and offer sweets, crisp rice, and popcorn to the flames.

8. Eid

Eid is the highest auspicious festival of the Muslim community. The meaning of the term Eid is Festival. It is celebrated with great pomp and enthusiasm all over the world. 

Ramadan is regarded as the most auspicious, pure, and fasting month. Muslims believes that fasting in the month of Ramadan purifies their soul. Prayers after fasting save them from going to hell, after death. During the month of Ramadan, they lead a holy and pure life. When the month of Ramadan is over and the moon of Eid is sighted, they end their fasts.

Seviyan

On the day of Eid, people get up early in the morning and dress up in traditional attire. They visit mosques and offer prayers in the form of Namaz. After the Namaz, they affectionally greet each other with Eid Mubarak.

Biriyani

Sheer Korma

On the eve of Eid, Different kinds of sweets and meals are prepared. Vermicelli kheer is the most popular prepared in every house. Sheer Korma, Biriyani, and Kababs, etc are made for Eid.

9. Dusherra

The festival of Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day of Navratri. Goddess Durga is worshipped during the nine days, it is called as Navratri and on the tenth-day celebrations begins. Dusherra is also known as Vijayadashami. The most symbolic thing about this festival is the burning of effigies of Ravana. According to the historic Ramayana, Dussehra is celebrated to enjoy the victory of Lord Ram over the evil King Ravana. Dussehra is also celebrated in some parts of India as it is believed that goddess Durga killed demon Mahisashur on the day.

Dussehra

Dussehra is celebrated with full pomp and glory. It is celebrated in Ramlila maidan in all over India. People come up to the grounds to see the Ramlila which shows the story of Dussehra. 

Sabudana Kheer

Like all festivals, Different varieties of food and special cuisines are made during the festival of nine days Navratri. Navratri meal has a special course and is strictly vegetarian. Even onions and garlic are not allowed during Navratri. Chemicals like salt are not used in the preparation of food, only rock salt can be used in making of dishes.

Jalebi

Sabudana khichri and Kutti puri are made for the people who do fast of nine days. And Jalebi and Papri chat are used to have on the day of Dusherra.

Dusherra teaches us to do well and to be good.

10. Christmas

Merry Christmas

Christmas is the greatest festival of Christians. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm like other festivals of different communities through­out the world. It comes on the 25th of December every year. It is celebrated as the birth of Jesus Christ. Like Krishna Janmashtami of the hin­dus.

On this occasion, great preparations are made by Christians. All houses and churches are cleaned and whitewashed. The Christmas tree is decorated with artificial stars, lights, toys, etc. Santa Claus is the center of attraction of the day.  People disguised as Santa Claus and distributes sweets, toys, and gifts among Kids. And also pray in church.

Christmas is celebrated with family and friends. They do a party at night and exchange gifts and presents with each other. 

 

Christmas Cake

The Christmas cake is an important attraction on Christmas day. For the Indian Christmas dinner, it is usually biriyani or some chicken and mutton items. Some peoples prefer Turkish biriyani every Christmas. Different kinds of cookies and pastries are also prepared for the day. 

Christmas Pastries

Christmas Cookies

Christmas teaches us to do noble deeds, sacrifice for others, and love to all.

Indian Culture and Customs:

Indian festivals and their delicious food

Let us know your favorite festival and their authentic meals in the comment section.

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