The Super Foods of Uttarayan

‘Kaaippoccheee‘ a word that conquers terraces of India on January 14th each year. The modern India is now much nonpartisan in terms of festivity, thus Uttarayan/Makarsankranti finds celebrators across diverse corners of the nation, but why do we celebrate it? The only Hindu festival that is completely stubborn for its date is celebrated to welcome the warmer days of the year and the winter solstice of course. The change of atmosphere is celebrated by people through kite flying. It helps them in feeling the transcendent wingless flight for a moment.

One might spend the night before Uttarayan tying ‘Kiniya‘ on the kites or get busy preparing a superfood menu for the hungry kite flyers, who would require ample amount of traditional delicacies to quench their belly fire on the terrace. An Indian festivity gets more tantalising with the tenderness of the big fat family gathering and the mouth-watering food they offer. Let’s check out what amazement Uttarayan superfood menu has to offer and what makes it so special…

1. Undhiyu:

The name literally means inverted. A heavy spicy mixture of numerous winter special veggies prepared in sesame oil and cooked in an earthern pot. Nowadays many households do not use earthern pots, but the delicacy is the most popular meal enjoyed by young and old alike. Traditionaly the ‘undhiyu‘ is cooked upside down, beneath the earth and is fired from top. Replacing every meal on that day, Undhiyu can be enjoyed with a puri or even as a standalone dish. It holds a significant space among every kite enthusiast and a true kite flyer can wait for hours and hours in que to get the best Undhiyu in town!

2. Jalebis:

Remember the old Dhara refined oil advertisement, where Jalebis pulled the kid back to home? Well the round golden sizzling sweets do create a environ of festivity every year on Uttarayan terraces. Jalebis can be an amazing dessert alternative after the hot, spicy and heavy Undhiyu meal.

3. Til Chikki: Forget your diet and hop on to tickle your taste buds with this lipsmacking sesame brittle. It has got everything to keep you body warm, mind healthy and sweet tooth satisfied. Made with sesame seeds and Jaggery, this is one snack that finds a place in almost every Gujarati household in winter.

4. Chai-Chavanu:

Indian milk tea is a staple snack for a morning as well as evening. Enjoyed by many for almost 4-5 times a day, tea can create wonders with its companion snack Chavanu. A mixed bag of snacks that contains almost every Namkeen that you know. Chavanu is something that can always be found in a kite fighters fist and a Gujarati Kitchen.

5. Fruits:

It is a common scenario on terraces to see people passing a plastic box full of fruits during the Makarsankranti afternoon. So, for the healthy optioners, Uttarayan is famous for enjoying a high carb fruit appetizer like Sugarcane, Indian jujube (Chani Bor) and Guava. These are seasonal fruits that are available during this time of the year, and having it with family and friends while enjoying kites, is an unwritten tradition followed by all.

So, this Uttarayan enjoy the festive ambiance with a twist of food, save birds and stay away from glass coated manja and fire lanterns.

Stay blessed with your families.