Healthy Holi Celebrations with TFL’s Lokwan Whole Wheat Atta
Holi is a festival of colour, food and joy, celebrated in India and many other countries all over the world. It is an ancient festival celebrated in the spring season, and is considered as one of the most important festivals of the Hindu calendar. Holi is celebrated on the last full moon day of the month of Phalguna, which is generally around March.
The story of Holi revolves around holika dahan and killing of asura Hiranyakashyapu by the Narasimha avatar of lord Vishnu,which marked the history of good over bad.
Hence On the first day of the festival, bonfires are lit in a ceremony known as Holika Dahan or Choti Holi. People gather near the fire to forget & forgive any rivalries & start new beginnings. The next day is celebrated as “Dhulivandan ” in which children and young people target each other with dry colour, water balloons, and colour-filled pichcari.On this day of Holi, people smear each other with colours and water and exchange sweets and gifts. Traditionally washable natural colours such as turmeric, neem, and kumkum were used but chemical-based colours are increasingly used nowadays!
Famous Foods around India in Holi
Holi is incomplete without a variety of delicious dishes. Some of the most popular foods around India during this festival include Thandai, Gujiya, Puran Poli, Malpua, Papdi Chaat, Dahi Vada and Kanji.
Puran Poli is a Maharashtrian recipe that became prominent because it can be prepared with the least of ingredients.It is also popular in Karnataka,Andhra Pradesh,Tamilnadu & Gujrat. Holi usually falls in March when rabbi crops are harvested. All ingredients used in making Puran poli like gram dal, wheat, and sugar cane are harvested during holi. Puran Poli is a traditional Indian sweet dish that is made with a stuffing of chana dal and jaggery. It is usually served as a dessert and is prepared with maida (plain flour). Maida is chemically bleached and lack in nutrients.It affects metabolism.
However, to make it a healthier option, one can replace the maida with TFL’s Lokwan Whole Wheat Atta. Taste For Life’s Lokwan Whole Wheat Flour is one of the top-quality wheat flours available in the market. It is made from Lokwan wheat, which is a special variety of wheat found in M.P. The flour appears redder in colour and the dough is sticky in texture. The elasticity of this flour also makes it an ideal choice for making parathas and puranpolis. This will not only make the Puran Poli healthier but will also keep your puranpolis fresh and soft for more time.
Recipe of Puran Poli using TFL’s Lokwan Whole Wheat Atta
Ingredients:
-1 cup Lokwan Whole Wheat Atta
-½ cup chana dal
-3 tablespoons jaggery
-2 tablespoons ghee
-1 teaspoon cardamom powder
-¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
-A pinch of salt
Instructions:
1. Soak the chana dal overnight.
2. In a pan, heat the ghee and add the soaked chana dal. Fry it for a few minutes.
3. Add the jaggery and mix well. Cook till the jaggery melts and the mixture starts to thicken.
4. Add the cardamom powder and turmeric powder. Cook for a few minutes and turn off the heat.
5. In a bowl, add the Lokwan Whole Wheat Atta and a pinch of salt and mix well.
6. Add enough water and knead it into a soft dough.
7. Divide the dough into 8-10 equal parts and roll them into small balls.
8. Take one ball, roll it into a circle and stuff it with the chana dal mixture.
9. Pinch the edges of the circle to seal the stuffing and roll it again into a circle.
10. Heat a tawa and place the Puran Poli on it. Cook on both sides and apply some ghee while cooking.
11. Serve hot with a dollop of ghee.
Holi is an exciting festival where people of all ages come together to celebrate the joy of the season. However, it is important to take care of our health during this festive season. Eating too many sugary treats can lead to weight gain, so it is important to switch to healthier options. Replacing maida with bran-rich wheat atta and sugar with gud (jaggery) for making sweets can help to make desserts more healthy.
To ensure a safe Holi celebration, it is important to follow certain do’s and don’ts. Use only natural colors to ensure that skin and hair are not damaged. Apply oil and moisturizers on the skin to keep it hydrated. Wear sunglasses to protect the eyes from the colors. Avoid using contact lenses to prevent any irritation caused by the colors. Lastly, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and enjoy a healthy and safe Holi.
Happy Holi from the Taste for Life family!