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Malai Kulfi ( Kulfi ) recipe | Kulfi Recipe | by Satya | Superyummyrecipes.com

Maa Durga . Source: Orissa Diary ( Click image for enlarged view )

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu,

Shakti Rupena Sansthita,

Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastsyai ,
Namo Namaha

Which means:

Prostrations unto Thee O Devi (Ma),

who resides in all beings as Shakti (Energy/Strength)

First of all I want to Wish You All A Very Happy Durga Puja...may Maa Durga bless you all with joy and prosperity.

Durga Puja symbolises the commemoration of good over evil and the divinity of god in a female form. Clay images of Goddess Durga are made and worshipped in gorgeously decorated pandals . On the day succeeding "Vijaya Dasami", the last day of Dussehra, the images are taken in a spectacular procession for immersion in the rivers. ( Read more on: Why do we celebrate Durga Puja ? )

Cuttack is the best place to witness the festival although almost all major cities of the state celebrate it with equal fervour. Cuttack is the the former capital and the commercial capital of the state of Orissa, India. Dusshera, the festival of goddess Durga, is very popular in Cuttack. Idols are worshipped in many streets and localities. In this city, Dussehra is famous for its Chandi Medhas, in which the idols are adorned with huge amounts of gold and silver.

Chandi Mandir Cuttack . Source: Sriradhakund . ( Click image for enlarged view)

The greater part of my childhood has been in Cuttack. The Durga Puja festivities is very prominent in Maa Katak Chandi Temple. Maa Cuttack Chandi is the presiding deity of Cuttack.In cuttack the goddess popularly called as Maa Katak Chandi, sits and rules on the heart of the ancient city. She is worshiped as Bhuvaneswari. Maa Chandi is worshipped in various incarnations of Durga during the puja. In Cuttack, people strongly believe Maa Katak Chandi as 'The Living Goddess '. ( read more about the appearance of Maa Chandi)

Prayer to Maa Durga

My early memories of this durga puja would be the drumming and chants from the pandal next to my house, to welcome her when the day would begin,I would be awakened by this wonderful atmosphere of festivity.

Even before the festivities the artisans would arrive at the pandals to create the diety. We school kids would watch the creative process taking shape day by day n fill us with wonder.

Artisan at work . Source: Picture By Nilanjan ( Article: Durga Puja on Washigtonbanglaradio.com)

Among the numerous pandal there were two very famous pandals near my house in cuttack at that time

Chandi Chowk Cuttack . Source: Orissa Diary ( Click image for enlarged view )

One of the famous medho near my house was the Chandi Chowk Medho, the complete background of the deity would be prepared with gold

Chowdhary Bazaar Cuttack . Source: Ayaskant ( Click image for enlarged view )

And the other one would be the Chowdhary Bazaar Medho where the whole decoration is with silver.

It would be heavily crowded with every lane filled with people to see the wonderful pandals. It would a five minute between each pandals and the nights are wonderfully flooded with lights.

Nightlife of Durga Puja in Cuttack

Some would walk it like me and my friends and some families would engage a rickshaw for the sightseeing. Within 2-3 mile there would be a about 30 pandals.Wow I can never forget those days.

Bisarjan of Maa Durga . Source: Flickr ( Click image for enlarged view )

The last three days asthami, navami and dasami the whole of cuttack would on the street.And on the last day bisarjan(immersion of deity) we would go to the mahanadi( huge river).

My mom would prepare some traditional stuff like bobattu(sweet channa dal stuffed roti), pulihara(tamarind rice),dahi wada(curd dumplings), besan ke laddu(chickpea flour sweet balls), kara posa(spicy fried snack), gulab jamun and so many other stuff for distribution to all neighbours, friends and relatives to celebrate this festival.

Street Food Cuttack . Source: Ayaskant on Picasaweb. ( Click image for enlarged view )

We kids would roam the streets eating some tasty street fare too.... we would also have spicy chaat like pani puri, or a combination of dahi wada, aloo dum and gugani (above image) topped with onions and some sev,aloo chaat, fresh crumbled paneer topped with rabri, kulfi... any many more

We would eat all the spicy stuff first and then search for the kulfi cart : )...We were was a real gang of friends !! On this auspicious occasion which brings back memorable moments, I want to share the most simple delicious indian street dessert "kulfi". The real authentic Kulfi is about three things milk,sugar and flavor. Along with my sweet memories I am sharing this indian street dessert.

Pista Malai Kulfi

( Click image for enlarged view )

Ingredients

4 cups organic whole fat milk + 1/3 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup pista
1/4 tsp crushed cardamom
1 bread slice
1 tbsp corn flour

Cooking Procedure

In a non stick pan boil the 4 cups milk, once it starts boiling reduce it to medium flame n stir occasionally until the milk reduces to 2 cups.

In the meantime finely chop the pista n keep aside. Take the bread slice n remove the sides n cut it into small pieces,soak it in the 1/3 cup milk, add the corn flour n blend it nicely to a smooth paste n keep aside.

When the milk which was kept for boiling has reduced to half, add the above bread mixture to it n stir for 2 min until it begins to thicken then add sugar,cardamom powder n chopped pista and stir it nicely for another 2 min.

Remove from flame n once it cools pour it into the kulfi moulds, if you do not have kulfi moulds you can popsicle moulds (like me) or just pour it into a freezer safe containers and cover it. Freeze it for 6 hrs.

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Before serving take the mould from freezer n keep it under running water for a min and slowly remove the kulfi. Serve with a little of pista flakes n enjoy.

I am sending post to a wonderful event " Beyond Five Days of Durga Puja " hosted at Preoccupied

Hearth n Soul

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Tags: Durga Puja, Cuttack, Dashara, Kulfi, Celebration, Street Food, Festival Moments

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Today is Janmasthami the birthday of our dear lord sri krishna, the most lovable incarnation of god who can be loved as a baby, or for his playfull pranks as a boy, or for his youth and grace to protect the righteous in this world. Lord Sri Krishna has mentioned in the bhagawad gita (can buy here)

Whoever offers me with devotion, a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water,(patram,

pushpam, phalam, toyam) I accept that, the pious offering Of the pure in heart.

Can there be a simpler offering that god could ask for.

On this beautiful occassion I want to share a lila of krishna with you all...last year we went to vrindavan as my hubby is a krishna devotee...there are lot of beautifull temples one of them is the RADHA RAMAN Temple .

500 years back a great devotee of krishna Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami used to worship twelve Shaligram silas. Wherever he would go he would bring them with him in a piece of cloth tied at the corner. One day a wealthy man (Seth) came to Vrndavana and offered Gopala Bhatta a variety of clothing and ornaments for his Shaligrams. Being very impressed with the Gosvami he wanted his darshan and to render some service which he presented in the form of some valuable cloths and ornaments. However, Gopala Bhatta couldn't use these for his round-shaped Shaligrams, so he advised the donor to give the Deity decorations to someone else, but the Seth insisted. Gopala Bhatta kept the cloths and ornaments with his shilas.

While Gopala Bhatta Gosvami was absorbed in remembering how the half-man, half-lion form of the Supreme Lord had manifested from the pillar in Hiranyakasipu's palace, he prayed in transcendental lamentation to the Lord: "Oh my Lord, you are very merciful and always fulfill the desires of your devotees. I wish to serve you in your form, having arms and legs and blissful smiling face, with lotus eyes.... If I had a Deity then I would be able to decorate Him so nicely with these clothes and ornaments."

In the evening after offering some bhoga and arotika to his Shalagram shilas, Gopala Bhatta put them to rest, covering them with a wicker basket. Late in the night, Gopala Bhatta took a little rest and then, in the early morning went to take bath in the Yamuna river. Returning from his bath, he uncovered the Shalagramas in order to render the puja for Them, and saw amongst Them a Deity of Krishna playing the flute. There were now eleven shilas and this Deity. The "Damodara shila", had manifested as the beautiful three-fold bending form of tri-bhangananda-krishna.

Read the above story in detail and have darshan of radha raman on video here

There are so many spiritually magnificent temples in vrindavan, though it is a very rustic place it will fill you with spiritual bliss if you plan to go there...each temple has a beautifull lila

On this auspicious occasion I have prepared peda with four flavors pista,chocolate,mango and vanilla.

( Click image for enlarged view )

The peda originated in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, and the variety from the city of Mathura in that state is considered to be the best.Another significance of Mathura Peda is that they are also used as 'Prasad'( In Sanskrit it means "grace", "clarity" or "tranquility" that which comes from God as His grace, gift, and greetings; consecrated food. People visiting the temples of Mathura can buy peda from the neighboring shops and offer to first and then taken as prasad.

I have used ricotta cheese which is basically made with cows milk instead of khoa..and here is the recipe

Ingredients:

15 oz container of Ricotta cheese
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup milk powder
2 tbsp butter
a pinch of cardamom powder
1 tbsp cocoa powder
3 tbsp mango puree
2 tbsp almond pista fluor(made apowder of 5 almonds n 10 pista)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 drop of green organic food color

Cooking Procedure

Heat butter in a pan, once it is melted add the ricotta cheese and cook for 20 mins on low heat till all the water evaporates and it becomes one solid lump.

Now add the sugar and once the sugar is dissolved, add the milk powder and stir so that it will blend nicely with the cheese.

(Click image for enlarged view)

Divide the whole mixture to 4 parts

In one part add almond pista flour 2 tbsp milk and a drop of food color
In the 2nd past add coco powder and 2 tbsp milk
In the 3rd part add vanilla extract
In the 4th part and mango puree and cardamom powder

And cook all the mixtures separatly for 10 min each ,stir well and switch of the stove

Once the mixture is slighty cools ,divide each portion into 4 parts n make each one to round ball n press it and make a small depression at the centre on one side and garnish with pista n enjoy