Happy Diwali Week everyone. I say ‘week’ because it really is a week long celebration – especially this year as Dhanteras (the first day of celebrations) was on Monday, Diwali was yesterday, Bestu Varas or New Year’s Day is today and our community and family celebrations will take place this weekend.
Today is Annakut , which literally means ‘mountain of food’. On this auspicious day we prepare different varieties of delicious dishes to offer Lord Krishna. Most Hindu families have a small temple in the home with statues of our various deities. Today we bathe them, dress them in new clothes and adorn them with jewellery. We offer prayers and hymns and the ‘mountain of food’ which is then eaten as prasad – a holy gift. You can see fantastic Annakut celebrations across the UK at Hindu temples today along with fireworks to mark the new year. We’ll be going along to the Hare Krishna Temple and The Swaminarayan Temple.
So as well as food for Annakut, I’ve been preparing food for my family festivities this weekend. My girls love dressing up in Indian clothes, drawing Rangoli patterns on the doorstep and decorating the house with Deeyas. But of course like most children at this time of year they crave that special Diwali food. I love the historical dishes I grew up with but I’ve adapted some Indian tradition with British baking classics to represent the times I live in now and my own family. I hope you enjoy making them.
The botanical is cardamom by the way. A tiny little thing that packs so much goodness in.
happy Diwali! these recipes look lovely. I am a big fan of Barfi so will try that out soon
Thank you. Come back and let me know how you get on or share some pics on my Facebook page 🙂
Wishing you a Happy Diwali too – I’m fast coming to the conclusion that cardamom is my favourite spice after cinnamon – for sweet stuff anyway. Your truffles sound scrumptious.
Thank you x I love cinnamon too. Maybe I’ll do that next?
Happy Diwali!! I love love that recipe you have for Barfi Truffles. I miss barfi so much ever since I moved back to the States from India. Thanks for the awesome post!
You’re most welcome. Hope you’ll be trying out the recipe 🙂
Happy Diwali and what lovely little truffles too….. we saw fireworks last night in Luton!
Thanks Karen. You’ll no doubt see more fireworks over the weekend!
I love the sound of these, amused to hear about the “mountain of food” being part of the celebrations!
Oh yes. If you ever manage to get to Hindu temples at this time of year you’ll see – people queue to bring food. Amazing!
Happy Diwali to you and your family. I love making my Diwali goodies at home as well. You have created yours uniquely! Shrikhand tarts look very cute and delish of course!
🙂 Thank you
A belated Happy Diwali – absolutely love the sound of those pistachio and cardamom brandy snaps with shrikhand, such a clever idea 🙂
Thank you. I’m could eat Shrikhand all year long! Funny thing is I ate so much of my aunty’s while I was pregnant that my daughter loves it too!