Ujwala's Delicacies

Indian inspired all natural kitchen.

Wish all readers a very happy raksha bandan

Raksha Bandhan which is also called as Rakhi is celebrated by Hindu’s in India and Nepal. Rakhi is multi-coloured silk thread, sometimes decorated with stones, pearls, glitter, and beads. Raksha Bandhan is observed in the month of August which is the month of Shravana according to Hindu lunar calendar.

The festival celebrates the sacred relationship, love, affection, fraternity, and sentiments of brother and sister. On Raksha Bandhan, sister puts kumkum and ties a rakhi on her brother’s wrist along with chanting prayers. Sister then feeds a sweet to her brother. Brother offers her a gift. It is concluded with Sister touching brothers feet for the blessing. This festival has evolved to honor the relationship between a sister and brother. On this auspicious day, brothers promise to their sisters to protect them from all harms and troubles and the sisters pray to God to protect their brother from all evil.

In India, there is no festival with out gathering and mouth-watering food. Food and gatherings are the celebrations of togetherness, happiness, bursting emotions. With this auspicious occasion, coming up, it’s time to spread some cheer! Spend time with family and friends, catch up, while making yummy food. It’s all for the family.

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas

May this joyful season greet you with health and happiness. With the holidays coming up, it’s time to spread some cheer! Holidays mean spending time with family and friends, catching up, kids happily playing around and bonding…usually while waiting for food. And while food is a big part of most people’s holiday season, that doesn’t mean you have to go for the same unhealthy fare you grew up with. If you’re looking for a healthier way to celebrate, check out the healthy Indian food found on Ujwala’s delicacies. Motivate yourself, your family and guests with your healthy choices. Each of my healthy Indian recipes is made from fresh, whole-grain, never-canned, never-frozen ingredients. Don’t wait until New Year’s to start your healthy lifestyle. Check out my healthy Indian recipes today!

Different types of diets and where would Indian food fit?

Vegetarian, Vegan, Paleo, all-natural, Atkins, South-beach, weight-watchers… What are these diets? What’s the difference?

Vegetarian diet doesn’t include meat, poultry or seafood.

Vegan diet is total vegetarian which does not include meat, poultry, fish, or any products derived from animals, including eggs, dairy products, honey and gelatin.

The paleo diet is eating natural food with little or no processing. In other words, the paleo diet focuses on eating foods nature gave us to eat. This diet typically includes vegetables, fruits, nuts, roots, meat, and organ meats. Foods such as dairy products, grains, sugar, legumes, processed oils, salt, alcohol, coffee, pasta, cereal, candy etc are not included.

All-natural diet is eating all-natural aka unprocessed ingredients. It is similar to Paleo but includes legumes, grains, coffee.

The Atkins diet is a low-carbohydrate diet, eat as much protein and fat as you want. It is usually recommended for weight loss.

South Beach Diet is about choosing the right carbs and the right fats. There are 3 phases in South beach diet. Phase 1 restricts carbohydrates, phase 2 introduces a few restricted foods are introduced. Phase 3 is maintenance to keep weight-loss last long.

Weight watchers diet – The Weight Watchers eat foods which have assigned points and calculate points of food they eat every day. Points System is the key to lose or control weight.

So…where does Indian Cuisine fit?
See the post to know more.

Wish all readers a very Happy Dussehra

The nine forms of Goddess Durga is a faminine energy form. Each form represents each of 9 days. Sequence of nine-day festival is as follows.

Day 1 – October 1, 2016 (Saturday) – Pratipada, Ghatsthapana, Shailputri Puja
Day 2 – October 2, 2016 (Sunday) – Pratipada, Chandra Darshan, Shailputri Puja
Day 3 (Dwitiya) – October 3, 2016 (Monday) – Brahmacharini Puja
Day 4 (Tritiya) – October 4, 2016 (Tuesday) – Chandraghanta Puja
Day 5 (Chaturthi) – October 5, 2016 (Wednesday) – Kushmanda puja
Day 6 (Panchami) – October 6, 2016 (Thursday) – Skandamata Puja
Day 7 (Shashthi) – October 7, 2016 (Friday) – Katyayani Puja
Day 8 (Saptami) – October 8, 2016 (Saturday) – Kalaratri Puja
Day 9 (Mahashtmi) – October 9, 2016 (Sunday) – Mahagauri Puja, Durga Maha Ashtami Puja, Saraswati Puja
Day 10 (Navami) – October 10, 2016 (Monday) – Siddhidatri Pooja, Maha Navami, Ayudha Puja, Navami Homa
Day 11 (Dashami or Dussehra) – October 11, 2016 (Tuesday) – Navratri Parana, Durga Visarjan, Vijyadashmi (Dussehra)

Happy Mukkanuma

Cattle, specifically cows are considered holy gods in the Hindu society. Kanuma is the major festival for dedicating to the importance of these animals in the nourishment and development of the society. Kanuma Panduga is basically known as Kanuma. Farmers pray and showcase their cattle to village. Cattle is considered prosperity in many Indian regions.

Kanuma forms part of the three day event called Sankranti festival, each and every day having its very own importance. Kanuma falls on the third day of Pongal (Tamil and Malayalam) and is generally known as Mattu Pongal in Southern India and in Andhra it is called as Mukkanuma.

Families meet during the Sankranti event. For sons-in-law it is holiday to their wife’s families. They are treated with utter honor, hospitality. After warm up with the bonfire of Bhogi ,the first day of Sankranti. which is followed by new dresses and delicious meals on the second day of Sankranti. Kanuma is the day for showcasing the gaming and betting talents.

The most eye-catching feature of Kanuma procession of most strong, musciline bulls called ‘Gangireddu’. ‘Gangireddu’ is a colorfully decorated bull led by its master who plays the ‘Nadaswaram’. Bulls are trained by ‘Yadava’ casete to nod ‘Yes’, ‘No’ and dance. Master earns money, clothes and grains by Gangireddu performance from village people. The Gangireddu can dance, nod ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ for master’s questions, kneel down, bow down and stretch its tongue to show it can sing. The famous ‘gangireddu aata’ arranged in coastal Andhra areas. This event showcases bull feats to the entertain the audience. The bull puts his feet on the thighs and stomach.

In olden times, people bet lot of money on cockfights. It is considered high prestige to win. Betting on cockfights used to lead to fights, cold wars and jealousy among majestic families. It is said this reason led to a big war near Palnadu in Guntur district, called as Palnati Yudhdham. At this time, cockfights are prohibited.

The rendition of a ‘Haridasu’ from Sundarakanda or Bhagavatam makes an auspicious beginning for people. Dressed in unique attire with an ‘akshaya patra’ on the head, a ‘tambura’, and ‘chidatalu’, the Haridasu is symbol of Sankranthi culture and tradition.

All about Makara Sankranthi

The word ‘Sankranti’ means the movement of the sun into Capricorn. On Makar Sankranti, the sun enters new zodiac-sign of Capricorn or Makara.

Most Hindu festivals are based on the lunar calendar, making the dates of festivals change every year. But Makar Sankranti is a festival which falls on the same day every year as it follows the solar calendar.

As Makar Sankranti is one of the oldest solstice festivals and falls on the equinox, day and night on this day are believed to be equally long. Post the festival, it is officially the beginning of spring. Indian summer and the days become longer, and nights shorter.

Makara Sankranthi is celebrated for three days. The first day is Bhogi. North india is known as Lohri.The second day is Sankrathi which is dedicated to worshipping Surya (the Sun god), varuna (the rain god) and Indra (king of gods). The third day is Kanuma which is dedicated to cleaning cows, farm animals and farm equipment and also offering prayers to them for helping with a successful harvest season.