Who doesn’t like a festival? People around the world know India for its diversity. This diversity gives rise to multiple festivals and celebrations. These festivals take place around the year. Hence, substantial gatherings occur frequently in India. These gatherings give rise to plenty of food choices and options. Talking further, we will be looking into the food variety present in the state well-known for its culture. Yes, we will be talking about Maharashtra. We will be seeing the Top 20 Festive season food in Maharashtra. These will raise your cravings to prepare and try them in the comfort of your house.
1. Karanji
People state Diwali to be the biggest festival all over India. Lots of lighting, cracker, colors, and food are present everywhere. So, we will first discuss all the dishes people make at this festival. Karanji is a popular dish at this festival. It is like a puff pastry. People make its outer covering using an all-purpose flour sheet. Unlikely, they make the inner stuffing with Gram flour or Semolina, Cardamom, Raisins, Jaggery, and sesame seeds. It is a portion of good comfort food.
2. Shankarpali
Shankarpali stands second in the top 20 festive season food in Maharashtra. The reason is its shape and size. Somehow, People carry it anywhere like peanuts. Also, it is a fast hunger snack. They make Shankarpali with all-purpose flour, milk, sugar, and ghee. Shankarpali is Crunchy or chewy in texture.
3. Chakali
We all know Chakali. People make Chakali using wheat flour, gram flour, rice flour, Etc. It is the spiciest amongst all the other snacks. To make it healthier, people put sesame seeds as garnishing it. People know Chakli for its crunchiness. It goes well with tea. People use a bottle-shaped Chakli maker to give the Chakli its iconic shape.
4. Laddoo
In the snacks of Diwali, there are two types of Laddoos. Rava (semolina) Laddoo and Besan (Gram flour) Laddoo. People make both using a similar technique. But they have varied tastes and textures. Nuts like raisins and cashew are present in them. They fall into the sweet platter.
5. Anarse
It goes by the name Hilsa. Anarsa is a rice-based biscuit. You can make it using rice, sugar, milk, ghee, and poppy seeds. People take around two to three days to make Anarse. It falls again on the sweet platter. It has a crunchy texture and melts in the mouth.
6. Shev
You can make this using the same dough as Chakli.Additionally, you can make it spicier. People then break it into very small or medium pieces. They serve it along with the other dishes during Diwali. It is locally famous in North Maharashtra. These people make their spices to experiment with their flavor from time to time. Nevertheless, it is a great snack to try.
7. Patole
Now, we can jump to other festivals. The next item in the top 20 festive foods in Maharashtra is Patole. People make it on the occasion of Nag Panchami. Precisely, People make rice flour dough sheets. They stuff it with Jaggery and coconut stuffing to make Patole. Later, they wrap this in Turmeric leaves. These leaves give it its significant color, Flavor, and odor. They are the tastiest.
8. Shrikhand Puri
To make Shrikhand, people drain yogurt to remove all the whey present. Then they add sugar, Cardamom, Pistachios, Almonds, Cashews, Etc. They stir this mixture until it gets a smooth consistency. They even add different fruit flavors to it. These days, Amrakhand is famous. Shrikhand goes very well with Puri. You can make Puris from wheat, rice, or all-purpose flour. One can find this dish on the occasion of Gudi Padwa.
9. Till Laddoo
People call them Sesame seed balls in English. They make them during Makarsankranti. You will get this Ladu with sweet tilgul. Tilgul is colorful sugar candy. Till Ladu has a high nutritional value. It helps in weight loss and keeps our hearts healthy. They mold it using Jaggery. It is helpful for blood circulation to the core. Hence, we include it in the top 20 festive foods in Maharashtra.
10. Narali Bhaat
People made this delicious dish on the occasion of Narali Purnima. This festival marks the end of the monsoon season. So, they worship the god of the sea and the sea. Narali Bhaat is nothing but Coconut Milk Rice. It is a delicious and healthy festive dish to eat over the year.
11. Modak
The name of this dish is genuinely tasty. Factually, its name means “small part of bliss” There are around two to three types of basic modaks in Maharashtra. You can make it using rice or wheat flour shells. Also, you can mold mixtures of Khava Barfi, Pista Barfi, or Chocolate Barfi into a Modak. It takes place a lot during the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi.
12. Puran Poli
The month of March is known for its colors. In Maharashtra, it is famous for Puran Poli. Puran Poli is just like a sweet Paratha. You can make this using all-purpose or wheat flour. With that, it comes with a stuffing of yellow lentils, Jaggery, and Cardamom. People harvest all the ingredients in Puran Poli during March. Precisely during Holi. Hence, people make Puran Poli a symbol of all the harvested crops.
13. Shegla Chi Bhaji
Shegla is drumstick leaves. On the occasion of Gokulashthami, Maharashtrians serve this vegetable with Puri and Kheer. It is a vegetable which we get only once in the year. It has a high nutritional value. Shegla is bit bitter to taste. So, people add potatoes and nowadays paneer or tofu to it. It reduces the bitterness making it delicious.
14. Batashe
On the occasion of Laxmi Poojan, people distribute Batashe to everyone. It is sugar candy. It is cookie shaped and sweet food item. With that, they chant different prayers of the goddess Laxmi for all seven Thursdays. During this period, they make sweets dishes like Gajar Halwa, Kheer, Sheera, Barfi, etc. It is a very holy festival. However, people are replacing Batashe with chocolates.
15. The five Fruits
On Vataporima, ladies give five fruits to other ladies. Women celebrate this festival for the good and healthy life of their Husbands. They keep fast, get dressed, and worship the Banyan trees around. They celebrate this festival in groups. Precisely, they give fruits like Mango, Banana, Guava, Apple, Jackfruit, and Pineapple. These fruits are available during this festival in Maharashtra.
16. Mahashivratri
This festival is prominent in North India. However, people in Maharashtra celebrate it as well. They keep fast on this day. They make Kheer and Thandai on this day. The Kheer consists of Rajgira (Amaranth), Cardamom, Sugar, Milk, Etc. The Thandai is of milk, sugar, and cannabis. People worship Lord Shiva everywhere.
17. Lahe
Lahe is a type of puffed rice. People see them during Nag Panchami. People soak them in milk, add sugar if needed, and serve them. It is a sweet, moist, and healthy breakfast to start the day. People offer snake milk as a sign of this festival. They serve Lahe in the breakfast and include patole for lunch and dinner.
18. Gode Pohe
You should know Pohe. These are the breakfast dish that many of us eat daily. However, Gode Pohe is a sweeter version of this. The Pohe here is puffed red rice Pohe. People mix them with Jaggery and grated coconut. It makes a very delicious and healthy breakfast. Precisely, people make them on the mornings of Diwali. On all the five days of Diwali, people serve Gode Pohe for Breakfast. It is a unique dish. Hence, it is present in the top 20 festive food in Maharashtra.
19. Sheer Khurma
Sheer Khurma is a festive dish in the Eid celebration. People make this along with Biryani. Closely, Sheer means Milk, and Khurma means Dates. Sheer Khurma is a delicious mix of Sewai, milk, date, coconut, Jaggery, sugar, nuts, etc. It is a creamy, smooth, tasty delight. People make it during Eid. While Eid marks the new beginnings, Sheer Khurma is perfect to accompany it.
20. Boiled Chickpeas
The Catholics in Maharashtra celebrate the homecoming of Goddess Velankani. On this occasion, they serve boiled chickpeas. These peas have a very different taste than the normal ones. They distribute it to everyone. They invite people to see the goddess in their house and offer sweets. Here, we end the article on the top 20 festive food in Maharashtra.
