indian festivals
Homemade Indian Cooking with Carla
The Spice Route
Indian Festival menus are designed to celebrate and honor India's diverse religions
and cultures by learning how to cook the food served on those occasions.
About Divali
The Hindu festival of Diwali is celebrated throughout India, and celebrates the
homecoming of the gods Rama and his wife Sita to Ayodhya after the defeat of Ravana,
and Rama's coronation as king. The myth is that the forests, where they had spent
years in exile, were lit so that the couple could find their way home, thus Diwali became
known as the “festival of lights.”
In Gujarat, the festival honors Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and in Bengal, it is
associated with the goddess Kali. Divali is also religiously significant to Jains, who
celebrate the attainment of Nirvana by Lord Mahavira, and to Sikhs, who commemorate
the release of Guru Harogobind from prison. Throughout India the festival signifies the
celebration and renewal of life, and therefore Divali is also thought of as the Hindu New
Year. The common tradition is to light small oil lamps (called diyas) and place them
around the home, in courtyards, gardens, and on roof-tops and outer walls. Sweets are
made and gifts are distributed to family members and business associates. Fire works
take place in many parts of the country.
The Divali Menu ($50 per person)
Welcome drink: Sweet lassi - a yoghurt smoothie
Pakoras - Fried cauliflower fritters served with hot and sweet tamarind chutney
Dal Makhani – buttery black bean curry eaten with nan bread
Butternut squash vegetable – the ultimate comfort food, sauteed with curry leaves, red
chilies and mustard seeds!
Raita - a fresh and tasty yoghurt salad
Shahi Pulao - a rice pilaf garnished with caramelized onions, nuts and raisins
Mango pudding – an exotic mango mousse, made with Alphonso mangoes
Divali Links
To understand the significance of Divali to India’s many religions, go here…
Go here for a child’s interpretation of Divali
and cultures by learning how to cook the food served on those occasions.
About Divali
The Hindu festival of Diwali is celebrated throughout India, and celebrates the
homecoming of the gods Rama and his wife Sita to Ayodhya after the defeat of Ravana,
and Rama's coronation as king. The myth is that the forests, where they had spent
years in exile, were lit so that the couple could find their way home, thus Diwali became
known as the “festival of lights.”
In Gujarat, the festival honors Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and in Bengal, it is
associated with the goddess Kali. Divali is also religiously significant to Jains, who
celebrate the attainment of Nirvana by Lord Mahavira, and to Sikhs, who commemorate
the release of Guru Harogobind from prison. Throughout India the festival signifies the
celebration and renewal of life, and therefore Divali is also thought of as the Hindu New
Year. The common tradition is to light small oil lamps (called diyas) and place them
around the home, in courtyards, gardens, and on roof-tops and outer walls. Sweets are
made and gifts are distributed to family members and business associates. Fire works
take place in many parts of the country.
The Divali Menu ($50 per person)
Welcome drink: Sweet lassi - a yoghurt smoothie
Pakoras - Fried cauliflower fritters served with hot and sweet tamarind chutney
Dal Makhani – buttery black bean curry eaten with nan bread
Butternut squash vegetable – the ultimate comfort food, sauteed with curry leaves, red
chilies and mustard seeds!
Raita - a fresh and tasty yoghurt salad
Shahi Pulao - a rice pilaf garnished with caramelized onions, nuts and raisins
Mango pudding – an exotic mango mousse, made with Alphonso mangoes
Divali Links
To understand the significance of Divali to India’s many religions, go here…
Go here for a child’s interpretation of Divali
From my family's recipe
book - to your table!
book - to your table!
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