Krishna Janmashtami is one of the most important Hindu festivals, honouring the birth of Lord Krishna. It is celebrated every year on the 8th day of the dark fortnight of Bhadrapada. As per Hindu mythology, Krishna was Lord Vishnu’s eighth incarnation, born to assassinate Kansa — Mathura’s evil king. This year, Krishna Janmashtami is being celebrated today on August 26. The festival is marked by devotees decorating their homes with flowers and preparing sweet dishes, as Krishna was known to have a soft spot for sweets.
On the occasion of this holy celebration, let’s take a look at some of the famous foods that the deity loved to have.
Peda — Mathura
Peda is one such sweet that is offered to Lord Krishna and consumed by devotees as a form of prasad. Popularly found in Mathura, this dish is prepared from sugar, milk solids (khoya), cardamom powder, and ghee. They are slightly brown in colour and taste best when soft and fresh.
Butter — Maharashtra
As per Hindu mythology, Krishna was quite mischievous when an infant. He used to steal Makhan aka butter from earthen pots, earning the moniker of “Makhan Chor” (butter thief). Out of the myriad of dishes that can be made with butter, the most well-known sweet is Makhan-Mishri. This Maharashtrian delicacy is cooked with fresh butter and rock sugar, producing a creamy texture.
Laddu — Uttar Pradesh
Krishna loved having laddoos and was fondly called “Laddu Gopal”. Laddus are spherical in shape and cooked with rich ghee, sugar syrup and besan, making it an irresistible treat. Uttar Pradesh has some of the best laddus that will make you crave more.
Thandai — Vrindavan
Every year Holi is celebrated with much fun and fervour across India, especially in Vrindavan. The occasion is observed to commemorate Krishna and Radha’s love for each other. Thandai, a refreshing drink, made with cooling spices, seeds, nuts, milk, and rose petals is consumed during the festival. Hence, the beverage has a special significance with Krishna.
Murukku — Tamil Nadu
Murukkus is a must when you are celebrating Janmashtami. Deep-fried, crunchy and savoury, Murukku means “twisting” and it refers to the swirly shapes of the item. Kai Murukku is a classic variation prepared with edible vegetable oil and rice flour. It is found majorly in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Kerala.
Kheer — Punjab
Indian festivities and kheer are a match made in food heaven. This sweet dessert is a Janmashtami special because Krishna was fond of kheer. The beloved dish is made by boiling rice with milk and sugar. Cardamom, almonds, saffron, cashews, pistachios, and raisins enhance the flavour further.
Kodubale — Karnataka
Kodubale is a less crispier and smoother version of Murukku. This tasty treat comes from the kitchen of Karnataka. Made using generous dollops of butter, roasted Bengal gram flour, and rice flour, Kodubale has an oval and ring-like appearance.
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