It was a dewy morning, Nita giggled in her warm cozy blanket, but made to get up when her grandma Mina made her to get up. It was a usual lazy Sunday, which reminded of a Monday homework.
Nita shouted – “Minamma, I have a project tomorrow on winter festivals, please tell me’’. Mina was arranging the barks of Acacia plant for the firework.
Firstly, you have the breakfast and then we will go to the forest, dried barks are running out for tomorrow – Mina replied.
All winters are a survival period for dandeli village. All villagers comes out in cozy warm sweaters, smell of firewoods are felt in every street. Group of childrens will be playing with snow ball & snow men. Men & women will be clearing their roof tops & doorsteps and long nights will be the most beautiful with cold beverages and friends.
Forests were filled with branches of Acacia, Mina & Nita collected all wooden dry branches in their green baskets and returned before noon. Nita opened her casket bag, started to finish her homework. Mina started her talk – India has lot of festivals and we enjoyed it to the fullest, every festival was a social gathering with surplous amount of food & drinks – She continued while toasting the barley roti.
Navratri & Rasgarbha
Body’s battery is reset & recharged with episodes of fasting. Navratri healthy recipes with banana, rajgira, millets, coconut milk and makhana will benefit the gut energy. Rasgarbha is a social gathering of dance beneficial for mental & physical well being. Hence its well said – ‘Navratri Fixes All’.
Dussehra
“Burn the bad, embrace the good’’. This festival showcases festive fasting recipes, culinary savouring dishes like sabudana, sheera, kuttupoori & potato recipes – all with snigdha property, ready to fight growing cold.
Eid – E – Milad
Beliefs of prophet Mohammed is celebrated in 10th month of Islamic calendar. The crescent of moon starts with a long fasting, also intending to rejuvenate biological clock. The long fast ends with juices, dates, seasonal fruits, wheat and rice dishes helping to balance the vata & pitta of body.
Diwali
A spirit of love, abundance and the spirit of giving nurtures relationship & gratefulness. The traditional sweet and ghee mixed sweets balances body to protect from dry impending season.
Christmas
Feast of winter solitice marks birth of Jesus christ. Recipes like baked and toasted spicy dishes, brewing wines made of seasonal foods and cakes warm up the winter.
Makar Sakranti
Sun’s journey from dakshinayana to uttarayana is considered as an auspicious time with sweet savoury dishes like Til Laddoo, payasam, puranpoli and khichdi. Flying kite at end of scorching sun in season is the best way to get maximum vitamin D and Til acts as a catalyst for absorption.
Lohri
Marking sugarcane harvest festival, this celebration beleieves to remove all bad omens of life. Rich millets with til helps in vitamin D absorption.
Nita finished her homework and the delicious hot barley roti with semolina sweet was ready. The small family finished their dinner and the little girl went out with her granny to the roof with the sizzling wind gently brushing her hair.
“Minamma, all the trees have lost their leaves”.
“Yes dear, but all the leaves will gain back its greenery, it’s the nature taking a stepback to comeback more stronger just like human beings planning their life comeback stronger.”