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From Kafuli To Gulgula, These 6 Dishes Are Prepared During Uttarakhand’s Harela Festival

This featival marks the onset of the monsoon season for the agriculture.

by Ankita Mazumdar
From Kafuli To Gulgula, These 6 Dishes Are Prepared During Uttarakhand’s Harela Festival

Uttarakhand’s Garhwal and Kumaon areas observe the Harela Festival every year to mark the onset of the monsoon season for the agricultural sector. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are worshipped for a prosperous harvest season. The word ‘harela’ refers to the ‘day of green’ and this festival is likewise known as Hariyali or Rihyali, here. On the day of the Harela Festival, seedlings are harvested, gods are worshipped, rituals are followed, singing, dancing and celebrations are concluded with a hearty meal of traditional dishes. 

6 Must-Have Local Dishes For Harela Festival In Uttarakhand

1. Kafuli

Kafuli is a regional curry dish of Uttarakhand made with loads of spinach and fenugreek leaves as the main ingredients. The gravy is thickened with the help of rice flour. Then, it is tempered with garlic, ginger and green chillies in mustard oil. This dish prepared during the Harela Festival is not only nutritious but also delicious and fulfilling. You must pair this curry with rice or phulkas and serve kafuli hot with a tablespoon of desi ghee on it! 

2. Gulgula

It is the Uttarakhandi version of doughnut holes; there we said it! This traditional Harela Festival dish is a sweet fritter made with a thick batter of wheat flour, jaggery (melted) or sugar, cardamom powder, water, and fennel seeds. To make it fluffy, you have to add baking powder. With the help of a spoon, you drop the batter into oil on medium flame. Fry until golden brown and you have your in-house gulgulas!

3. Arsa

Another sweet dish of Uttarakhand’s Garhwali region is made with easy ingredients like rice flour, ghee, water, and jaggery. This satisfies your sugar cravings after a feast and is an effortless dish. Just like gulgula, you fry it till golden brown and super crispy on the outside. On another note, arsa is offered to the gods and is considered a sacred sweet food item during festivities. 

4. Baadi

This traditional dish uses finger millet flour, commonly known as Ragi, which makes it highly nutritional. Uttarakhand folks call this flour manduwe ka atta where they roast it nicely and then cook it with water. The consistency is dough-like. Enjoy it with a spoonful of ghee on this Harela Festival.

5. Dubuk

Dubuk is a lentil curry made with local pulses of Uttarakhand like black grams (bhatt), horse grams (gahat) and rice. The overnight soaked pulses are turned into a fine paste. Then it is flavoured with some ginger, garlic, cumin, turmeric, and mustard oil. It has a thicker texture and is enjoyed with steamed rice or rotis.

6. Singori

Ending the must-have dishes during the Harela Festival in Uttarakhand with another sweet dish called Singori. This one is a rather unique and irresistible sweet from the Kumaon region! It uses khoya which is roasted until brown and then mixed with dry coconut and raisins. While the mixture is still warm, it is wrapped in freshly plucked maalu leaf (Bauhinia variegata) in a conical shape. Keep it overnight and enjoy the next day with your loved ones!

Also Read: Tiny Home In The Sky! In Uttarakhand’s Naukuchiatal, Stay Amidst The Towering Trees At ₹3,490/N

Have you ever enjoyed some of these popular Harela Festival dishes?

Cover Image Courtesy: X/Indian_eVisa & odisha_tourism

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First Published: July 17, 2024 8:56 PM