Add more joy to your Dhanteras celebrations with these six traditional dishes!
Dhanteras, the auspicious festival that marks the beginning of Diwali, is a time for new beginnings, wealth, and prosperity. This year, Dhanteras is celebrated on October 29th, and the festivities are in full swing. Regarded as one of the most auspicious festivals, people celebrate the occasion by purchasing precious metals such as gold. Celebrated with great fervor, it is customary to welcome abundance into homes through various rituals, including the preparation and sharing of traditional foods. If you enjoy eating or making sweets on special occasions, here’s a selection of six auspicious sweet dishes you should prepare for this Dhanteras to invite good luck.
Lapsi is said to act as a magnet for attracting blessings on Dhanteras. To prepare it, start by heating ghee in a pan and frying the dry fruits until golden brown. Set them aside. Next, in a deep-bottomed pan, roast the broken wheat in the ghee until fragrant. Add water and cook the broken wheat until tender, allowing most of the water to evaporate. When about one-third of the water remains, stir in the cardamom powder and saffron, then pressure cook until fully cooked. Finally, add jaggery powder and mix thoroughly, garnishing with blanched almonds and cashews.
Kheel batashe is a traditional offering made from puffed rice and round sugar candies, presented to deities during Dhanteras and Diwali. This delicacy is prepared using rice from the season's first harvest, symbolizing abundance and gratitude. Widely enjoyed, kheel batashe is believed to attract good luck and prosperity, making it a cherished part of the festive celebrations.
This traditional sweet dish, crafted from rice, milk, saffron, and cardamom, is thought to bring good fortune and prosperity, making it an ideal way to kick off the Diwali celebrations. Offering kheer to the goddess is considered auspicious. Not only is kheer special for Dhanteras, but it is also commonly served as prasad during numerous Laxmi pujans across the country. This popularity is because it is believed that kheer is one of Goddess Lakshmi's favorite sweet dishes.
This traditional mixture of five key ingredients—ghee, milk, sugar, honey, and curd—is regarded as very auspicious. This blend is believed to bring good fortune and is offered during Lakshmi puja on Dhanteras. Each component carries its own significance and importance. Panchamrit has been offered as prasad since ancient times.
Everyone enjoys atte ka halwa, even on ordinary days, let alone during Dhanteras. This delightful treat is easy to prepare and makes a wonderful offering for Dhanteras Pooja. Start by roasting wheat flour in ghee until it’s fragrant. In a separate saucepan, combine water, cardamom, and sugar, bringing them to a boil. Once boiled, pour this flavored water into the roasted flour and allow it to cook further. Serve the halwa warm, garnished with your favorite nuts and toppings.
In Maharashtra, Naivedya is presented to Goddess Lakshmi on Dhanteras. It consists of a platter filled with various food items offered as bhog to the goddess. After the offering, Naivedya is distributed among everyone as prasad. A mixture of coriander seeds and jaggery is a key component of this platter and is believed to attract good luck.
