Janmashtami Special

Here Silvertalkies team member Anamika tells us how Janmashtami was celebrated by her mother back home in Delhi, when they were young.

On the day of Janmashtami, there used to be a festive mood since morning. We children used to make small decorated tableaux in the house or outside in our yard depicting Lord Krishna and his life in various stages.

We’d just use things lying around the house like pencils, sand, grass, sticks, pictures, mithai, Krishna idols, dolls, colours, etc., to decorate.I do miss seeing all that now. In the evenings, we used to visit temples where the Krishna idol and all other Gods and Goddesses would be dressed up beautifully. Lots of lights in and around the temples and the magical aura made the mood of the day very lively.

Our celebrations would start at the crack of dawn to prepare for the main Puja. At the temple, I still remember the long queue to get the glimpse of the Bal Gopal (little Krishna) idol and to rock him in the cradle. Till today I miss shopping for Janmashtami celebrations with my mom as I used to. We would buy different puja items like fruits, flowers, incense sticks, candles and diyas. My mom would make the ‘prasad’ and sweets for the Lord at home. These were first offered to Lord at midnight and then eaten by the family members.

We used to clean our Puja room for the evening prayers, decorate it with lots of flowers and then wash the lord with milk and honey and dress him up with new clothes. Here’s the recipe of the Prasad my mother would make for Janmashtami and which I make for my daughter and son now.

Coconut Makhana Ladoos

Ingredients –

• Dry Cocounut grated – 1 1/2 cups
• Makhana (Puffed Kernel of Gorgon Nut or Fox Nut (not Lotus seed)) – 1 cup
• Tarbooj Seeds (Watermelon Seeds)- 1 teaspoon
• Dry fruits of your choice ( I used Almond)
• Cardamom Powder – 1/2 teaspoon
• Sugar for Syrup – 1 cup
• Water

Method –

In a kadai, dry roast the grated coconut, watermelon seeds and the makhana separately. Now in a blender coarsely crush the roasted makhana. Remove it from the kadai and keep aside.

In the same Kadai, make a sugar syrup of one thread consistency by adding sugar to water and gently stirring it on low flame till it reaches a one thread consistency ( dip a spatula in the mixture and check it with your forefinger and thumb, you will see a single thread when touch from both forefinger and thumb). Add crushed cardamom powder to it.Now your syrup is ready.

Mix the dry roasted mixture of coconut, watermelon seeds and makhana  into the sugar syrup and stir gently for about few minutes. Add dry fruits of your choice, I added sliced almonds to it. Let the mixture cool for few minutes, now with both the hands make ladoos with firm grip of your hands. Some prepare burfi also out of this but I prefer ladoos

Your Janmashtami special recipe is ready.

Posted by Anamika