As the air is filled with the promise of spring, Basant Panchami beckons in a celebration of knowledge, wisdom, and rebirth. This festival celebrates Goddess Saraswati and is accompanied by various rituals as well as the merry exchange of sweets. The vibrant color yellow, representing prosperity and warmth, dominates these festivities. Yellow mithai, flavorfully as well as historically rich, takes center stage at this celebrations.
From saffron with its golden glimmer to turmeric, so bright in the yellows of the sweets, these are offerings to the goddess and representations of the vibrancy of the season. Whether one is hosting or participating in prayers and rituals, an assortment of such yellow treats may add the appropriate festive touch. Here are eight must-try yellow mithai that will add sweetness to your Basant Panchami spread and create lasting memories.
It is called Kesari Bhaat, or saffron rice, a scented and colorful dish, normally served as Prasad during Basant Panchami. With saffron, ghee, sugar, and dry fruits added to rice, it changes to a warm yellow, showing the warmth of the season with its fragrance of joy. A little sweetness added to the soft fragrance makes the ladoo extremely delightful in festive feasts.
Besan Ladoo is one of the most commonly prepared sweets which is prepared by roasting gram flour, ghee, and sugar, mostly garnished with cardamom and dry fruits. The ladoos have rich yellow colouring, not just because of the visual appeal, but also hold cultural importance and represent warmth and happiness. Soft and round sweet is easy but indulgent. Thus, the ladoos make it ideal to share during Basant Panchami.
Boondi Ladoo: These ladoos are prepared using tiny gram flour droplets deep-fried in ghee and then soaked in sugar syrup. These ladoos are a Basant Panchami traditional sweet,
with their yellow color, brought about by the addition of saffron or turmeric, mirroring the vibrant colors of spring. Sweet and slightly crispy, boondi ladoos must be tried out by anyone seeking to enjoy festive treats.
Gulab Jamun is usually prepared using khoya, deep-fried, and dipped in sugar syrup. For Basant Panchami, saffron or turmeric is added to the dough to give it a deep yellow hue. This version of the sweet dish is a great fit for the festival as it represents the golden energy of the season while offering a richly indulgent treat.
Kheer, a traditional rice pudding, is prepared on Basant Panchami with a splash of saffron to give it a warm yellow hue. The creamy texture of this dish, flavored with cardamom and garnished with dry fruits, makes it a comforting treat after prayers. Its golden color and soothing flavor perfectly represent the festival's spirit and Goddess Saraswati's blessings.
This Rajbhog is an extremely rich saffron-flavored sweetmeat of cottage cheese. Its round shape gives it an extraordinary appearance as round balls dipped into sugar syrup. The saffron gave a bright yellow to this delight making it one of the excellent dishes for the celebrations of Basant Panchami. Flavored with the presence of a different variety of nuts, this is an excellent, classy, sweet to stand out among many other desserts of rich taste.
Sandesh is a Bengali sweet that is prepared using fresh chenna and flavored with cardamom or saffron. For Basant Panchami, saffron is added, making the sweets yellow, soft, aromatic, and mildly sweet. Shaped into different forms of festive celebration, it is garnished with pistachios or strands of saffron, which adds to its appearance and cultural value.
This North Indian popular sweet is actually milk reduced thick in consistency mixed with sugar and saffron along with crushed cardamoms. The gold-yellow color obtained due to the presence of the saffron, which in itself gives this rich aroma as well. More often than not garnished by pistachos and almonds too, Kesar Peda will surely melt like silk in one's mouth in an event specially dedicated to this purpose, during Basant Panchami.