Just Walking Around

Puran poli ..Gujia .. Thandai and the festival of colors

Holi re Holi Purnachi Poli.. up goes the shouts as the Holika Dahan flames touch the sky. You stand near the bon fire soaking in the heat feeling warm and happy inside , praying to the Lord Almighty to burn  away the sorrows , despair , poverty and all things negative and bless us with health , wealth, happiness and prosperity.

Its that time of the year when winter is ending and Summer is about to start , that’s when our ancestors created a festival to usher in the Summer .  Holi comes at a time of the year when people have a tendency to feel sleepy and lazy. This is natural for the body to experiences some tardiness due to the change from the cold to the heat in the atmosphere. To counteract this tardiness of the body, people sing loudly or even speak loudly. Their movements are brisk and their music is loud. All of this helps to rejuvenate the system of the human body.

Besides, the colours when sprayed on the body have a great impact on it. Biologists believe the liquid dye or Abeer penetrates the body and enters into the pores. It has the effect of strengthening the ions in the body and adds health and beauty to it.

There is yet another scientific reason for celebrating the Holi, this however pertains to the tradition of Holika Dahan. The mutation period of winter and spring, induces the growth of bacteria in the atmosphere as well as in the body. When Holika is burnt, temperature rises to about 145 degrees Fahrenhiet. Following the tradition when people perform Parikrima (circumlocution or going around) around the fire, the heat from the fire kills the bacteria in the body thus, cleansing it.

The way Holi is celebrated in south, the festival also promotes good health. For, the day after the burning of Holika people put ash (Vibhuti) on their forehead and they would mix Chandan (sandal paste) with the young leaves and flowers of the Mango tree and consume it to promote good health.

Some also believe that play with colours help to promote good health as colours are said to have great impact on our body and our health. Western-Physicians and doctors believe that for a healthy body, colours too have an important place besides the other vital elements. Deficiency of a particular colour in our body causes ailment, which can be cured only after supplementing the body with that particular colour.

All this is great but the best part of celebrating Holi and Duleti ( Dhulivandan ) is sweets and other nick nack you can savor and hogg on. Leading the way is Puran Poli a Maharashtrian delicacy without which you can not imagine Holi being complete. A soft and flaky roti made of Maida (kanik) stuffed with Puran made of chana dal and jaggery spiked with cardamom(velchi / elaichi) and nutmeg (jaifal) to give it that extra flavor. Eat it hot and pipping smeared with a generous trikle of pure desi ghee . Or try it like I do by dipping its pieces in milk and then finally smack your lips and  give a hearty burp to acknowledge the host / puran poli maker of the pure joy and satisfaction you had enjoying the sweet meal . Every year all of us gather at my mom-in-laws place on Holi and after celebrating the Holi Dahan in the society compound devour the scrumptious and best ever Puran Poli made by my mom-in-law Namrata Desai – Mummy ,made with her secret recipe which includes a dash of extra special ingredient of love and care.

Another favourite Holi recipe is the Gujiya a classic North Indian sweet among Holi special dishes. In the festive season of holi eating gujiya is a tradition.It is made in most part of India and has different names like Karanji and Ghugre. The filling of gujiya is a mixture of roasted dry coconut, nuts, mawa, cardamom powder and powdered sugar. It can be glazed with sugar syrup. To coat or not to coat gujiya in sugar syrup is an option. Bite into this sweet snack and let it melt in your mouth.

For Goans / Karwari like me Holi is very special and a unique sweet associated with Holi is the Mangane .A sweet dish made from Chana dal cooked with jaggery and coconut milk ,added with Ole (Wet ) Kaju and Kismis (Raisin) to produce this famous wholesome dessert.It can be had with hot and fluffly puri’s or simply devoured like a kheer.

Still remember this sweet dish made by my mother in a special round bottom utensil slowly cooked on a low flame and kept on a simmer for a  long time to get the perfect taste which still lingers on my tongue..

But if you are not the sweet eater types you can always enjoy the good old bhajia or crispy pakora made from onion or potato . Or the all time favourite namkeen the Samosa . And where else can you satisfy your taste-buds but the famous A1 Samosa of Gurukripa’s at Sion . 

Fried to perfection of golden brown with its special potato mix stuffing not too spicy not too salty but just right that even the kids and adults love its taste and if its served with chole or mint chutney toh kya kehne..

And how can you forget the Thandai to quench ones thirst after eating all these oily and fried namkeens and sweets. This Holi’s official drink is mainly found in Rajasthan and the north of India. But now a days also available in pre-mix bottles . The most famous being Guruji’d Thandai.Thandai is a very popular drink made with almonds, saffron, milk, sugar and a variety of herbs. It’s also possible to find a version made with bhaang for the extra effect. But mind you it can get you into a tipsy situation which not even the hardest of liquor can match. People drinking this concoction of Cannibis (bhang) combined with milk, refined butter, mango and spices are know to get into a state of psychotropic liberation that makes them emotional and express themselves in loud manner.So I would suggest caution if you are thinking or getting a kick this Holi.

And finally after eating all these sweets I hope it will definitely make you a happy person if not a sweeter person.

So let me pray to God that this Holi bless us all with Happiness and joy and make us a better person for years to come. Happy Holi to all my readers….

Lets enjoy this Holi and Dhulivandan with that famous song from the Blockbuster movie “Sholay” which goes like this ....

Holi ke din dil khil jaate hain
rangon mein rang mil jaate hain
holi ke din dil khil jaate hain
rangon mein rang mil jaate hain
gile shikwe bhool ke doston
dushman bhi gale mil jaate hain

Holi Hai…….