Recipes

  POTATO(ALOO) CURRY
Aloo curry is the key dish of Ashtami Thali as is served with Poori in the prasad. This curry is pretty simple yet very delicious.Gravy of the curry is just tomato based and tempered in whole Garam-Masala with all the essential spices.Curry goes very well with Puri and can be eaten with Roti as well.

ASHTAMI THALI AND PRASAD Navratri is one of the most auspicious time of the year in Indian culture. It falls two times in a year:Chaitra Navratri(March-April) and Sharad Navratri(September-October). Sharad Navratri is much more significant and is celebrated in all over North-India.This celebration goes on for nine days and nights and Durga-Ashtami is the eighth day of Nav-Durga pooja. This day young girls are invited at devotees house for Puja-Prasad and sumptuous food is served to them following by return gifts or some time money. Durga Ashtami Thali consist of Suji-Halwa, Puri, Kala Chana and Aloo curry. These are essential delicacies in serving of the thali but you can always add more dish to look it more festive and elaborated. These four dishes consider as Prasad of Ma Durga. Suji-Halwa, Puri, Kala Chana, Aloo curry.

While growing up in an Indian household everyone knows about "Satya Narayan Puja".This Puja is performed for God Vishnu  on the Thithi of Poornima; that means on day of full moon night. In my house my Grand-Mom would get performed Satya-Narayan Katha. So sometime it was just the Katha and sometime Ramayan Path which would last for 24 hrs. continuously; then followed by the Katha and Aarti and then a grand feast with  all kith and kins and friends. It was more of big celebration for all members of the family.Feast would've all kind of regional delicacies and menu was kind of keep changing every single time except the Prasad of the Puja: PANJIRI , HALWA AND PANCH AMRIT.
These three recipes symbolizes the Satya Narayan Puja. Every house has different recipe for Panjiri but PanchAmrit and halwa remain same.Here I am sharing theses recipes which are prevalent in every north-endian house hold.
PANJIRI
HALWA
PANCH AMRIT/CHARAN AMRIT

Panch Amrit/Charn Amrit is the Prasad/Offering to The God after end of any Pooja or more specific after SATYA-NARAYAN Pooja. As name"Panch Amrit" suggests it is mixture of five ingredients:Yoghurt, Milk, Honey, Ghee, Sugar. These five ingredients are the essential part of Panch-Amrit;However, you could use Fox-Nut(Makkhane), Saffron strands, Rose Petal etc. to enhance the richness of the recipe. All five ingredients are  mix together and then it is served with Panjiri at the end of the Pooja. It tastes very good when it is eaten with Panjiri. तुलसी- दल(Basil-Leaves) is used for ritualistic value of Panch-Amrit. So it is also part of

Beasn Laddu always reminds me of a long queue of children outside of temple waiting for laddu  as an offering.It is very famous dessert in India and prepared for festivals,wedding or given as Prasad.It is made of gram flour roasted in pure ghee and flavoured with green cardamom.After it gets cold it is moulded in ball shape and can be eaten any time of the day as snack or as dessert.