Indian Festival Foods - Recipes

Diwali - Navaratri - Ganapati - Sankranti - Pongal
Nag panchami Festival Recipes

Festivals keep the traditions and the culture of the country/region alive. Festival foods play an important part in making the festivals or any celebration more enjoyable.

Festivals give us a chance to give ourselves a break from the routine life. It is a way to remind ourselves that life is not all about just work. That there are other important things in life and we should give some time for them too.

Shopping, outings, meeting family at get-togethers, religious rituals, prayers, cooking the festival foods together, sharing and feasting with family members and friends, all these are integral parts of any festive celebration.

It also sometimes happens that we meet or contact and connect with some friends and family members only during the festival time.

All religions, cultures, countries have their own festivals. These festivals may be related to seasons, legends, mythological stories, history etc. Some festivals may also help in the spiritual awakening.

When we mention a festival, the food associated with that festival comes to mind immediately. Our childhood memories link these foods to the specific festivals.

We eagerly wait for that favorite festival to arrive so that we can enjoy those foods in that particular atmosphere.

Of course now a day, you can have any food at any time. But having a particular festival food during the festival itself has a special charm.

Most festival recipes use the ingredients easily available in that particular season and therefore are also healthy for you.

Indian festival food is varied and because of the diversity of the regions, customs the variety is endless. The sweets , the namkeens(savories) are so mouth watering, it is difficult to resist them.

You don't really need to wait for a festival to make these recipes. Make them when you feel like and celebrate the day.

Indian festivals

Indian festival recipes for you

Indian Festival Sweets

Mango kalakand

Mango kalakand is a Summer sweet recipe. Mango kalakand is a sweet made with Indian paneer and ripe mangoes.

Ripe fresh mangoes or mango pulp are used when they are available in plenty in summer season.

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How to make Shankarpale - Shakkarpare

Shankarpale or shakkarpare Festival sweet recipe for Diwali or Christmas festival.

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Diwali sweets recipes

Gajar ki kheer - carrot kheer

 - Indian carrot and milk based sweet. Easy to make.

How to make Besan burfi - Indian dessert

Besan burfi - Indian dessert and festival sweet recipe made with Besan / gram flour/ chickpea flour.

How to make Basundi - Indian milk dessert

This rich dessert is a Maharastrian / Gujarati recipe. Prepare in advance. Keep in fridge for a week and serve when you want.

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Semiya payasam - vermicelli pudding - Sevai kheer - Shavige payasa, Traditional Indian sweet - dessert.

Easy to make and doesn't take a long time. Can keep in fridge for 3 days. Serve hot or cold.

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How to make Kaju katli - Kaju katri - Indian cashewnut fudge

Indian Festival - dessert recipe - Quick and easy to make. Keeps for long.

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Carrot halwa - Gajar ka halwaCarrot halwa - Gajar ka halwa

Carrot Halwa -Gajar ka halva

Easy To Make Sweet with Carrots and milk. Keeps in fridge for a week.

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Dalia sheera / halwa

 - Healthy breakfast recipe with broken / cracked wheat.

To make it vegan, use coconut oil / vegetable oil instead of desi ghee.

How to make Besan laddoo - Chickpea flour balls

Besan laddo is made with bengal gram dal flour / chickpea flour. A must for traditional festivals such as Diwali festival.

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Sheera - Semolina Halwa - Sooji Halwa

- A rava / Semolina / cream of wheat dish. Breakfast / snack / sweet. Known as sajjige, kesari, sanja in Indian languages.

How to make Shrikhand - Srikhand - Hung curd dessert

Festival sweet - Curd/ Yogurt based dessert recipe, flavored with saffron and cardamom.

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Roasted gram laddoo - puthani tambittu unde

Nag Panchami / Ganapati festival sweet for naivedya. Made in Karnataka and Maharashtra.

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Chigli unde - black sesame seed laddoo

Chigli unde is made for Ganesh chaturthi and Nag panchami festival in Karnataka.

Festival Drink Recipes

Mango lassi is made with mango, an Indian summer fruit and yogurt as a snack or for breakfast.

When mangoes are not in season, this can be made with mango pulp, store bought or home preserved.

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Kairi Panha - Aam panna

- Kairi - Aam Panha, Raw green mango drink for hot summer. Summer festival.

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Badam Milk - Almond Milk

Festival Rice Recipes

Spicy Mango rice - Mavinkai chitranna

Mango rice made using sour green mango. Recipe from South India.

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How to make Moong dal and rice khichadi - Huggi

Easy to digest rice and mung bean lentil recipe. One Dish Meal.

Cook in pressure cooker or on the stove top.

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Easy to make South Indian rice recipe for festivals, breakfast and when you want a one dish meal.

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Sweet coconut rice - Narali bhaat

How to make Sweet coconut Rice - Maharashtrian Narali bhaat 

Sweet rice pudding recipe made on Narali Poornima day in Maharashtra, North Karnataka.

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Festival Raita - Salad Recipes

Cool Cucumber Salad

Easy to make as snack or a good accompaniment for any meal.

Festival Snack Recipes

Stir fried Chickpeas - Kabuli Chana sundal - Ghugri

 Made with kabuli chana - garbanzo beans, prepared on festivals such as  Ganesh chaturthi and distributed to the devotees as prasad, also served as a healthy snack.

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Dahi Vada -Dahi Bhalle

A popular yogurt based snack recipe. Good for festivals, summer season and as a party dish.

Known as thyir vade - mosaru vade in south Indian languages.

Batata vada or aloo bonda

Batata vada is a popular snack item made with boiled potatoes and besan / chickpea flour.

Batate vada is served by itself along with chutney or stuffed in a pav/bun to make Mumbai vada pav.

How to make fried poha chivda

- This thick rice flakes recipe is made from thick poha / aval.

Tea time snack recipe

Diwali festival recipe

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How to make Thin poha chivda - Rice flakes - aval

made from thin beaten / flattened rice flakes as a easy snack. Diwali festival snack. Keeps for 3-4 weeks.

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Gujrati Dhokla

- Gujarati steamed dhokla - khaman dhokla.

A steamed snack made with chickpea flour.

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Poori - Indian Fry bread

Made with whole wheat flour. Serve for breakfast, lunch, dinner. It also be made with maida(plain flour).

Ambode - Chana dal vada -

This South Indian dal vada recipe is a spicy snack recipe - Festival recipe, made with split chickpeas

Vegetable samosaVegetable samosa

Vegetable samosa

Vegetable samosa is usually made with potatoes and peas. You may also add some carrot.

Festival Vegetable Recipes

Potato masala subji served with Poori - Chapati - dosa

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