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 #traditional #Uttarakhand #style #dish made form #palak (#Spinach)
Plan a #trip to #India & we will get you the #visa within 24 – 48 hours without any #hassle. You can also #visit our website https://t.co/aLLNDTelVl or https://t.co/vKykMhUusC #indiantaste #food pic.twitter.com/2Ii7fb7d9m— Indian Visa (@Indian_eVisa) June 19, 2019
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
An Odia street food stall is incomplete without Gulgula.
This traditional deep fried dish, served with hot Ghugni, can charge you up for the day.@maha_tourism, @my_rajasthan & @MPTourism: may we entice you with some?PC: Sucheta Mohanty#OdishaTourism#AllThatOdiasEat pic.twitter.com/aK4Wm76TAG
— Odisha Tourism (@odisha_tourism) May 31, 2021
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
Arsa is a famous sweet dish in the Kumaon and Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.
It is an essential part of Kaleo, it is a return gift on any auspicious ceremony in any household of this region.#indianfoodzone #indianfoodie #indianfood #traditionalfood #sweetdish pic.twitter.com/egRw735wqa— Indian Food Zone (@IndianFoodZone) March 3, 2021
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
Mandue ke Baadi is made up of the local flour, popularly known as Ragi. It’s cooked with ghee, sugar & dry fruits till the point that it thickens. There’s not an iota of chocolate in it, but the taste & texture of this dessert reminded me of Chocolate Brownie. #Uttarakhand #eat pic.twitter.com/QVKt5JXNp8
— Neeru Singh (@Eatstory) September 12, 2018
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
Know more about #Gharwali #cuisine in @mail_today story featuring our #chef https://t.co/jDsFXT2Ylq #media #monday pic.twitter.com/vlf4j2mGhm
— JW Mussoorie (@JWMussoorie) April 18, 2016
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
All of the favourites from Almora, the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand – Chocolate (Sweets and sticky barfi) ❤, Singori (Mawa mithai wrapped in leaves) 🥳, and Khechua (another gooey delicacy made with ghee) 😍 #SundayFunday #foodie pic.twitter.com/2aafNsyYP4
— Jatin Guliani (@TheFoodAdmirer) March 13, 2022
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
For more such snackable content, interesting discoveries and the latest updates on food, travel and experiences in your city, download the Curly Tales App. Download HERE.