Blogging Marathon # 14

This sweet is a special offering to God Shiva and Goddess Parvati on the occasion of a very famous Rajasthani festival GANGAUR. GAN means SHIVA and GAUR means PARVATI.

The festival commences on the first day of chaitra month, the day following Holi and continues for 18 days. On the evening of the seventh day after Holi, unmarried girls carry 'Ghudlias' (earthen pots with holes all around in which a lamp is lit) on their heads and they go from house to house and singing devotional songs. (This ritual is observed to celebrate the triumph of Rao Santhal, ruler of Jodhpur,Rajasthan over the cruel Mir Ghudley Khan, who had carried away 140 young girls celebrating the festival of Gangaur, in 1548 AD. The burning lamp symbolizes maharaja's valor and chivalry).

The idols of Shiva and Parvati made of clay and wood are worshipped. These divine entities are called as 'Isar' and 'Gangaur'.

[These paper Mache idols are made by my husband’s grandma narayani devi]

On this day maiden and married ladies worship Goddess Parvarti for getting good husband and for the Health ,welfare and long life of their husbands respectively. They apply mehandi on their hands and dress up themselves beautifully.

[Mehandi art by me]

The festivals conclude with the procession of idols on the 18th day. Ladies sing song about farewell of Gauri from her parent's home to her husband's home.

               [Gauri procession idol placed in the Mehrangardh Jodhpur fort]

Now coming back to FAL. Gauri had these fal while leaving her parent's home that's why this offering is made to her on this festival.

Ingredients

• 1 cup wheat flour
• 1 cup jaggery
• 1/4 th cup water
• 1 tablespoon ghee (clarified butter)
• Ghee or oil for frying

Method

1. In a pot mix jaggery with water and boil it till it melts.
2. Take the wheat flour in a big bowl.
3. Add a tablespoon of ghee and Mix it with fork.
4. Add the jaggery syrup to the wheat flour as required and knead the dough.
5. Make small cherry size balls of the dough and pinch the ball with thumb and fingers to give the pyramid like shape.
6. Fry it in the ghee or oil till it turn golden brown.

Variation

• You can make any shape out of the dough.
• You can add sesame seeds to the dough.
• Instead of jaggery you can use sugar.

Do Check out what my fellow Blogging Marathoners are doing here: