This week has us all soaking in a celebration mood, with Friendship day and Raksha Bandhan (a day for siblings & cousins to celebrate) coming up.
Raksha Bandhan, a festival epitomising the eternal love between brother and sister has been celebrated from time immemorial. The festival of rakhi, in the last few years, has adorned an altogether modern look .We have rakhi parties happening, shopping spree, dinning out etc., with all the brothers pampering their sisters on this day.
I remember during my school days, I had a Marwari friend, who was living in a joint family and she used to get so excited on the arrival of this festival. With bubbling joy she would exclaim “The whole day will be fun, all we cousins and siblings will dance, party, cook together and enjoy to the hilt.” This once in a year chance to get to meet each other fills them with enthusiasm and joy.
The zeal and fervour is vividly visible in the way planning starts way before the festival approaches. By being innovative you can also make this day an affair to remember, so go ahead and make your Raksha Bandhan a perfect reason to celebrate that too in your own style.
Dudhi/Bottle Gourd Halwa:
Ingredients:
- 1 Kg Dudhi/Lauki (Bottle Gourd)
- 1 ½ litre milk
- 400-500 gm sugar
- Elaichi powder (cardamom powder)
- Saffron few flakes
- 1 tbsp ghee
- Food colouring (optional)
Method:
- Peel and grate the Dudhi (bottle gourd).
- Put milk and dudhi in a heavy saucepan. Boil till thick, stirring occasionally. Once it starts thickening, stir continuously.
- Add sugar and cook further till it thickens.
- Add ghee, elaichi (cardamom powder), saffron and colour. Stir on low heat till mixture collects in a soft ball or the ghee oozes out.
- Serve hot decorated with a chopped almond, cashew nuts, raisins or pistachios.
Preparation Time : 1 hour 15 mins