Festivals & Delicacies from India

By Rajani Vaidya

In this book the author seeks to reach out to readers of all ages throughout the world who are curious about Indian festivals and their associated culinary traditions. The cultural significance of each festival is described, along with the various foods that are part of the celebration. The author has experimented with traditional preparation techniques and developed a step by step approach to food preparation which includes a modern healthful approach. Readers can expect exceptional results by following the carefully laid out steps.
The author, Rajani Vaidya extensively studied food preparation techniques and has many years of experience in preparing healthy foods.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rajani Vaidya
• Release date: Jun 23, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311400109

Rajani Vaidya

Rajani Vaidya holds degrees in liberal arts, accounting, and computer science. Her passion has been cooking delicious and nutritious foods that are loved by children and adults alike. She selects preparations from Indian kitchen, as also from Western kitchens such as French, Italian, and American. For every delicacy she writes about, she has spent hours in adjusting and recording all the steps and measurements to ensure good flavor and quality.Her previous book, "Festivals & Delicacies of India" was published in 2009. It will be available as e-book soon.

Book preview

Introduction

When my daughter Kalika was young, she was eager to know about each Indian festival and its significance. Of course, she would enjoy learning some of the unfamiliar recipes also. The reason for my offering of this book to you is to provide you with information on Indian festivals, their significance, and special recipes for the various festivals.

To make it interesting and unique, I have included mythological stories behind the festivals. I have chosen only recipes that contain low or moderate amounts of fat and sugar. I have many years of experience in selecting the ingredients, preparing and testing all recipes. Each of the recipes has been prepared many times before being introduced in this book.

I gathered all information about Indian festivals from the Kal Nirnay calendar. I picked up the information for each month and specific day on which each festival is performed. I have listed major festivals. Most of the festivals are celebrated all over India, but there are some celebrated in certain regions (for example, Lohri in North India or Ganesh Chaturthi in South India). Celebration of festivals is a happy occasion. Relatives, friends and families work together and create loving bond among them.

In writing this cookbook, I was inspired by my father- in-law, Mr. G. M. Vaidya, who wrote numerous books for children. By observation, I thought I would write a book that children (as well as grown-ups) would enjoy.

I wish to acknowledge that I received valuable information relating to Chaturmas from the book Sampurna Chaturmas. 'Chaturmas' means four months, and most of the festivals occur in these four-months. People fast during these four months often, and they do not eat garlic and onion in these four months in accord with the old traditions.

Some other information was also found from a variety of sources on the Internet.

I would also like to thank both Jerry and Kalika Delsescaux for their help in editing and publishing this work. I deeply appreciate the great interest they took and the tremendous effort they put into creating the impressive book that you are about to read.

Hinduism

In India, 80% of the population is Hindu, currently about 740 million people. Hinduism can be traced back over three thousand years. Many believe that a person has to be born Hindu, one cannot convert.

There are three main gods in Hindu religion: Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh. Brahma is creator of the universe. Vishnu is preserver and protector of creation. Ram and Krishna are incarnations of Vishnu. Mahesh is the destroyer. Without destruction, there would not be growth and rebirth. There are festivals for Ram, Krishna, and Shiva or Mahesh. There are three goddesses: Durga, Saraswati, Lakshmi and their festivals are also celebrated. Durga is the goddess of strength, Saraswati the goddess of knowledge and education, and Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth.

Hindu festivals are celebrated according to the Indian calendar. The Indian calendar is based on lunar cycles and has twelve months. Each month starts from the first day of the lunar cycle and ends with dark (or 'new') moon. There are approximately twenty-eight days in a month. In this book, I will provide you with information relating to each festival, as it falls in each lunar month. I will then describe the cultural aspects and specific delicacies prepared for those festivals.

Hindus celebrate the following festivals:

Gudi Padava

The first month of the Indian calendar is Chaitra. The first day, which is Gudi Padava, is the day following the dark moon.

Occurs in March/April

Haldi Kunku

Starts from third day after the dark moon in Chaitra and ends on Akshayya Trutiya, which is in the second month of Vaishakha.

Generally in April or May

Ram Navami

Also celebrated in Chaitra, nine days after the dark moon.

March/April

Vat Pournima

This festival is in the third month of Jeshtha, on a full moon.

June, typically

Ashadhi Ekadashi

During the fourth month of Ashadh, this is celebrated on the eleventh day after the dark moon.

July

Shravan

Shravan is the fifth month and is the Indian holy month. Every Tuesday in the month, newly wed Maharashtrian women get together for puja and have a party.

August

Nag Panchami

This festival falls in Shravan, on the fifth day after the dark moon.

August

Coconut Pournima

This festival also falls in Shravan on a full moon. Celebration of Rakshabandhan is also on the same day.

On full moon in August

Krishna Jayanti or Gokulashtami

During Shravan, this falls on the eighth day after the full moon.

August or September

Haritalika Pujan

This festival falls in the sixth month of Bhadrapad, on the third day from the dark moon.

August or September

Ganesh Chaturthi

This festival also falls in Bhadrapad, four days from the dark moon.

August or September

Anant Chaturdashi

During Bhadrapad, this festival falls fourteen days after the dark (new) moon.

September

Ghatasthapana

The beginning of Navratra falls in the