Hariyali Teej And Ghevar: Traditional And Festive Teej Festival Sweet Recipes
Written by jheelum basu | October 1, 2024
Celebrated during the Shravan month, Teej marks the onset of the monsoon and, mythologically, it symbolizes the sacred reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. To celebrate the occasion and the greenery of the monsoon season, women take part in fasting, adorn themselves in green attire, apply mehndi, and make Teej festival sweet recipes like ghevar, malpura, rabri, and gujiya.
There are three main categories of Teej observed during the monsoon months of Shravan and Bhadrapada. While Hariyali Teej celebrates the lush greenery of the monsoon, Kajari Teej is all about enjoying folk songs with a focus on nature's beauty. Hartalika Teej, on the other hand, celebrates the reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, during which women observe a strict 24-hour fast without food or water.
Why Are Sweets An Essential Part Of Teej Celebrations?
Indian festivals and sweets are often synonymous. And the monsoon festival of Teej is no exception. While the Teej festival sweet recipes are deeply rooted in
the cultural and religious significance, the nutrient-rich, calorie-dense sweets are essential for an instant energy boost after the day-long fast. Moreover, the Teej festival sweet recipes are also offered as devotional bhog to deities.
Top 5 Traditional And Festive Teej Festival Sweet Recipes
Ghevar
The dessert platter of Teej has always been reigned over by this quintessential Rajasthan-special festive dessert. Besides the cultural significance, Gheval is related to Teej for another reason. The lacy, airy, honeycomb-like structure of Ghevar needs humidity and moisture to maintain its shape and texture. Moreover, it is also considered a great source of warmth and instant energy after the strict fasting by women. Made with a thin batter of flour, milk, ghee, and lemon juice, Ghevar is deep-fried in hot oil and then soaked in sugar syrup and topped with rabri and chopped nuts.
Malpua
Popular across the North Indian states during celebrations, Malpua is often considered one of the oldest Indian desserts, with its roots in the Vedic period. This traditional pancake-like, syrupy sweet delicacy is cherished for its soft center and crispy edges. Often served during Teej, Malpua is made by deep-frying a batter of flour, milk, mashed bananas, and thickened milk. Once the malpuas are fried well, they are soaked in sugar syrup and served with some creamy rabri on top.
Rabri
Being another festive staple for Teej, rabri is a classic milk-based celebratory sweet made by slowly reducing full-fat milk until it achieves a perfectly thick, creamy consistency and forms layers of clotted cream called ‘malai’. While rabri is an exquisite dessert on its own, it is also poured over other festive treats like ghevar and malpua.
Gujiya
While its origin is in Bihar and Jharkhand, Gujiya is a festive staple across several North Indian states. This traditional festive sweet is best described as a
crescent-shaped sweet made by deep-frying a flaky dough pocket. It usually carries a filling made with sweetened khoya, dry fruits, and aromatic spices. After prolonged fasting, it is often consumed as a calorie-dense and nutrient-rich sweet for a quick energy boost.
Coconut Laddoo
These bite-sized, spherical, sweet coconut delights feature a crunchy texture that easily melts in the mouth. Made with grated coconut, sugar/jaggery, condensed milk, and ghee, these laddoos also carry the essence of cardamom. For an additional festive crunch, these are often garnished with chopped nuts.
Conclusion: This year, turn the celebrations even sweeter with these Teej festival sweet recipes. Whether fasting alone or with your loved ones, these sweets will make your celebrations memorable.