Khichdi - When The Sun Signals Spring

The day we’ve all been waiting for, when the end of the bitterly cold winter season begins, is finally here and the country is celebrating it with gusto. On January 15, 2016, the mighty Sun begins its journey from Sagittarius to Capricorn during the winter solstice, signaling the start of warmer days, of spring and the imminent harvest of the Rabi crop, wheat. An important occasion, this festival of India is widely celebrated and while it is known as Khichdi or Makar Sankranti in the North, it is called Bhogali Bihu in Assam and Pongal in Tamil Nadu. Makar Sankranti is an auspicious day for Hindus and unlike most other Hindu festivals that are based on the lunar calendar, this harvest festival is pegged to the Sun and its journey through the celestial space.

The Rituals

One of the most important rituals observed on Makar Sankranti is a dip in the holy Ganges at dawn; Ganga Sagar in West Bengal and Prayag at Allahabad being the two preferred locations. Merry makers cook that ultimate winter comfort food, khichdi (apt for a harvest festival as it is made of rice and pulses, both important grains) and it is eaten with family and friends. If you were looking to dial up your good deeds of the year, it would be a great idea to donate khichdi on Sankranti to the needy.

One of the most colourful Khichdi Parv rituals is kite flying. Climb out to your terrace on the Khichdi festival and you can feast your eyes on a sky filled with a riot of multihued kites. Kites are symbolic of the devotees’ prayers being offered to the Sun God and you must make the most of this opportunity to add to the palette.

What festival in India or really anywhere else in the world would be complete without some holiday goodies? So besides the must-eat khichdi, you could also be tempted with a guilt-free range of yummy foods like tilkut, made with sugar syrup and sesame or til seeds, til patti made with jaggery and black and white til seeds.

Celebrate in the Sun

Since this harvest festival is dedicated to the Sun, wouldn’t it be a great idea to be outdoors under and celebrate the Khichdi festival basking in the warm sunshine. Say yes, pack your bags and land in the holy city of Varanasi. The city is peppered with shops and impromptu stalls selling traditional Sankaranti sweets like badam patti and dhonda. Load up on wheat ladoos and kurmure ladoos and take back some ganne ki kheer (made with  sugarcane juice; sinful and unforgettable!) and the best place to find these delights are is the main market area in the city.

A must visit place on the Sankranti festival is Allahabad, where thousands of believers brave the early morning cold and fog to take bathe in the Ganges at the sangam (confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati). The sangam offers an incredible experience and an insight in to how this ancient festival of India is celebrated.

Finally, munch on this while you book your ticket - khichdi was first developed in medieval India. The first person to talk about khichdi was the Russian adventurer, Afanasiy Nikitin and the Mughal King Jehangir later popularised this dish.