It's a new year, and we are all set to celebrate the first festival of 2024, Makar Sankranti, soon. Referred to as the harvest festival, it marks the Sun's transition in Capricorn (also called Makar in Sanskrit), making way for longer days with ample sunshine for crops. This year, Makar Sankranti falls on January 15 (Monday). Hence, over the weekend, you will see people enjoying the festival with colourful kites, songs, dance rituals, and, of course, delicious foods.
During Makar Sankranti, you will find people preparing different traditional foods in different regions. While people in Bengal make pithe (sweet dish) with date jaggery and rice flour, Gujaratis make Undhiyu and sakkar pongal. However, one Makar Sankranti-special dish that remains common across India is dal Khichdi. Now, you must be wondering why people eat dal khichdi during the festival. Let's find out.
Also Read: When Is Makar Sankranti 2024: Date, Time, Rituals And 5 Traditional Foods For Festive Feast
Significance Of Having Dal Khichdi During Makar Sankranti:
Makar Sankranti is also referred to as 'Khichdi Parv' in Uttar Pradesh and adjacent regions. This is because khichdi is considered the favourite dish of the Hindu God Goraksnath. People during the festival throng Gorakhnath temple to offer puja and seek blessings for a prosperous harvest year ahead. There, khichdi is served as prasad to the devotees.
Cultural significance of khichdi during Makar Sankranti:
As Makar Sankranti is a harvest festival, people eat newly harvested food grains (rice and dal) to start a new year of agriculture. Alongside, it also marks the end of winter vegetables, and hence, you will find the use of cauliflower, carrot, peas, etc., in the dish.
Nutritional significance of khichdi during Makar Sankranti:
According to Ayurveda, khichdi is a light and comforting food that can be easily digested, further aiding several bodily functions. Here, having khichdi during the festival prompts your body to get prepared against the upcoming season change and related health issues. After all, khichdi does make for a wholesome meal with several health benefits.
Also Read: Makar Sankranti 2024: Make These 7 Treats At Home And Celebrate The Festival
Photo Credit: iStock
How To Make Makar Sankranti Special Dal Khichdi:
As we know, khichdi preparation follows no strict recipe. You can use different types of dal, vegetables, and spices to make this delicacy. Here, we have a special recipe that includes the goodness of dal, rice, and winter vegetables.
To make this dish, you need to boil dal and rice. Then cook carrots, peas, and other vegetables of your choice with some basic masalas, including hing, jeera, garam masala, etc., and add them to the dal and rice mix. Cook everything together, adjust the salt, and serve hot.
Do not forget to add a dollop of ghee on the top before savouring. Click here for the recipe.
For other such Makar Sankranti-special recipes, click here. Happy Makar Sankranti 2024, everyone!