Hyderabad unites in festive spirit for Ganesh Chaturthi, Milad-Un-Nabi, Onam

Hyderabad: Food served on festive days brings back the best memories from our childhood when festivals were celebrated with family, neighbours and friends. This week the city will celebrate three diverse and equally enjoyable festivals.

Vinayaka or Ganesh Chaturthi

This nationwide festival is celebrated enthusiastically as Vinayaka Chavithi in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The festival celebrates Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Homes are decorated and idols of Ganesha are installed. Devotees offer prayers, flowers, and sweets.

Modak: Modaks are Ganesha’s favourite sweet, made with coconut and jaggery.

Pacchi Chalimidi: Pachi Chalimidi is a traditional sweet made with rice flour, sugar, and ghee, and it requires no cooking. The name ‘Pachi’ means raw in Telugu, referring to the fact that this dish is not cooked. Rice flour is mixed with ghee, grated coconut, powdered sugar and cardamom to form laddoos.

Chimmili: Chimmili, also known as ‘nuvvula undalu’ in Telugu, is a traditional South Indian laddoo made from sesame seeds and jaggery.

Pulihora: Tamarind rice or Pulihora symbolises several different flavours and is said to bring good luck and harmony when offered to Lord Ganesha.

Onam

Kerala celebrates Onam over 10 days with floral decorations, music and art. It culminates on Thiruvonam with a lavish feast called Onasadhya. This grand vegetarian spread, called Sadhya is served on a banana leaf and features around 26 dishes of various colours, textures and flavours.

Kaalan: This is made with root vegetables, fresh vegetables and coconut in a yogurt base.

Avial: This dish is a staple in every sadhya, featuring a blend of lightly steamed vegetables in a coconut, green chilli, and yogurt-based curry.

Beetroot Pachadi: This adds a pop of colour and a burst of flavour to the meal.

Thoran: Sadhya features a variety of thorans, which are mixed vegetables cooked with grated coconut.

Payasam: At least three kinds of payasam or milk-based desserts are made for Onam Sadhya.

Eid E Milad-Un-Nabi

One of the most important Muslim festivals of the year, Eid E Milad-Un-Nabi marks the birthday of Prophet Mohammed. It is equally important for both the Shia and Sunni Muslim communities around the world and is celebrated by wearing new clothes, praying and celebrating.

Eid E Milad-Un-Nabi celebrations include the preparation of Prophet Mohammed’s favourite foods. These festive dishes prepared to mark the birthday of Prophet Mohammed are traditionally known as ‘Mawlid’ recipes.

Prophet Mohammed, who was known for leading a life of simplicity, is said to have loved dates, honey and sweets. This is the reason why Mawlid recipes usually include plenty of sweet dishes but there are also savoury festive dishes that are prepared.

Dates and Honey Sharbat: Dates and honey sharbat is made since these were two of Prophet Mohammed’s favourite foods. The dates are soaked in milk overnight to make them softer and sweeter. This milk is then mixed with honey, rosewater and rose syrup is added too. Sometimes soaked almonds and pistachios are also added to make this already delicious drink even better.

Zarda: This aromatic sweet rice dish is prepared with basmati rice, ghee, sugar and saffron. The rice is soaked, fried in ghee and then cooked with saffron milk and sugar. The Golden coloured Zarda is garnished with almonds, pistachios and dates, cardamom and rosewater.

Dudhi Ka Halwa: For this dessert, bottle gourd is grated, cooked in ghee and cardamom-based sugar syrup is added. It is topped with a variety of dry fruits and nuts.