Diwali, the celebration of lights and sweets, is h]ere! We are all preparing for the celebration. From shopping, making our skin glow, cleaning and decorating the house, to donning new clothes, Diwali is all about coming together and celebrating festivals with family and friends. What holds the most importance during this festival is the Diwali Puja of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha is the God of wisdom and Goddess Lakshmi is considered to provide wealth, luck and prosperity. A special Diwali Bhog is always prepared to offered to the deities. What have you decided?

If want to prepare something at home for Diwali Pujan, Avni Kaul, a nutritionist and wellness coach, is suggesting some recipes for your festival celebration.

5 bhog recipes that you can offer to Goddess Lakshmi and lord Ganesh on Diwali

1. Boondi Laddu

Boondi laddu is an integral part of Diwali Pujan bhog. They are quite easy to prepare and very delicious.

Ingredients

1 cup of besan
¼ cup of water
Oil for deep frying

Ingredient for sugar syrup:

11/4th cup of sugar
1 tbsp of ghee
2 tbsp of raisin and cashew
5 cloves
1/4th tsp of cardamom powder
Half cup of water

Preparation

• Firstly, make boondi from besan batter.
• In a large thick bottomed kadai, have 1¼ of a cup of sugar.
• To that add another ½ cup of water and mix it well till the sugar dissolves.
• Blend it well and let it boil till you reach one string consistency.
• When the sugar cools slightly (nearly 5 minutes), pour the over prepared boondi.
• Also, roast 2 tbsp of raisins, 2 tbsp of cashew and 5 cloves using 1 tbsp ghee.
• Pour the roasted dry fruits over boondi mixture besides the ¼ tsp cardamom powder.
• Blend it well with the help of a spoon till the sugar syrup is absorbed.
• When the mixture is still slightly warm, form ladoo.
• Lastly, offer boondi ladoo for the Puja or store using an airtight container once cooled.

Also, read: Worried that Diwali will throw you off the weight loss bandwagon? Ways to stick to your diet plan

2. Moong dal sabudana kheer

Moong daal sabudana kheer is quite rich and classic, besides being delicious and aromatic.

Ingredients

½ cup of sabudana
½ cup of moong dal
2 cups of jaggery
1 tbsp of ghee
2 cups of milk
4 cardamom pods, crushed
1 tablespoon of ghee
2 tablespoons of cashews
8 raisins
For tempering and garnish

Preparation

• Wash sabudana and soak them in water for at least 2 hours. While in a pressure cooker, add moong dal and roast it using medium-low flame until aromatic. Wash the roasted dal, mix 2 cups of water, and pressure cook it for 2 whistles.
• Add jaggery and ½ cup of water to another pan and cook till the time jaggery melts and syrup is made. Let it cool completely.
• In another pan, add the soaked and rinsed sabudana with 2 cups of water and cook. Intermittently, keep stirring and cook until sabudana becomes translucent and soft while pressed between fingers.
• Once the pressure releases naturally, open the pressure cooker lid and whisk the moong dal properly. To this, add cooked sabudana and mix.
• Add milk and bring it to a boil, stirring it repeatedly to avoid it from burning from the bottom. To this, add crushed cardamom pods, mix them well, and switch off the flame. Cover and keep this aside for around 10 minutes.
• Post 10 minutes, add the jaggery syrup to the kheer mixture and mix it continuously.
• In a small pan on medium heat, add ghee. To this, add cashews. Once they turn golden, add raisins and put off the flame. Add it to the kheer. Now, serve and enjoy.

3. Phirni

It is a milk-based sweet offering to Goddess Lakshmi.

Ingredients

¼ cup basmati rice
1 litre whole or organic milk
½ cup of sugar or as needed
10 to 12 almonds (blanched, peeled, reserve a few for garnishing)
10 to 12 pistachios (blanched, peeled, reserve a few for garnishing)
½ teaspoon cardamom powder or 6-7 green cardamoms, grind and powdered in a mortar-pestle
12 -15 saffron strands
2 tsp rose water

Preparation

• Rinse and drain the rice. Then grind it till it seems like sooji.
• Boil water in a bowl, add the nuts and cover the bowl.
• Blanch it for around 30 minutes, drain the water.
• Then peel and chop almonds and pistachios when they become warm.
• Save a few almond and pistachios slices for garnish.
• Heat milk using a thick bottomed broad pan or kadai.
• While the milk becomes warm, take 1 tbsp from it in a small bowl.
• Mix the saffron strands in the warm milk and keep aside.
• Allow the milk to boil. Then reduce the heat and add the ground rice. Stir and mix sugar also.
• Using low to medium heat cook the ground rice inside the milk. No need to cover the pan.
• Continue to stir at intervals so that the lumps are not created.
• Also powder the elaichi in a mortar-pestle. Discard the cardamom peels.
• When the rice is almost cooked, add the almonds, pistachios, cardamom powder and saffron infused milk.
• Stir and cook it for a further 5-6 minutes or more or till the phirni thickens and the rice granules are softened and cooked fully.
• Lastly, put rose water, once the phirni is done.
• Pour the phirni using serving bowls. Garnish it with the rest of the chopped almond and pistachio slices.
• Cover the bowls properly with a lid or secure firmly using aluminum foil. Once cooled at room temperature, refrigerate phirni for around 4 hours or more.

Serve phirni once it is chilled!

Also, read: Post-Diwali pollution can take a toll on your hair. Save them with these hacks

4. Gur ka Halwa

Another bhog recipe that many people offer to Goddess Lakshmi is gur ka halwa, made from jaggery.

Ingredients

1½ cups jaggery or gur (small chunks)
3 cups of water
2 tbsp semolina (suji)
¼ cup besan
¾ cup atta
½ cup ghee
Handful of chopped almonds
Handful of chopped cashew nuts
Handful of pistachios
Half tsp cardamom powder

Preparation

• Blend together water and gur and bring it to a boil, low flame to dissolve the jaggery. Remove from heat and strain the water to filter out impurities.
• In a pan put little ghee and lightly fry the dry fruits and wait for brown shades. Now take them out.
• Add remaining ghee and put atta and besan. Use medium heat to cook the flour till it turns brown. Add the gur syrup and cook till all of the water is absorbed. Cook till it leaves the side and add the dry fruits. Remove and serve hot.

5. Coconut milk rice

Also known as Cheppi Kheeri, coconut milk rice is traditionally belongs to the coastal region of India. They are good for digestion and immunity as well.

Ingredients

3/4 cup of raw rice
1 ½ cup of thin coconut milk
1 ½ cup of thick coconut milk
1 to 2 turmeric leaves

Preparation

• Inside a pressure cooker, add raw rice that has been washed and drained besides thin coconut milk
• To this, put turmeric leaf pieces or knots, cover with the lid, and pressure cook it for two whistles. Allow the pressure release on its own.
• Open the lid, put thick coconut milk and mix. Get it to a boil and simmer. This porridge will thicken as you cook or as it cools down. So you can adjust the consistency by having water or additional coconut milk.

Serve hot as it is or with some salt or jaggery.