Krishna Janmashtami sweets vs. healthy snack recipes
Krishna Ashtami or Gokulashtami or Janmashtami is the Hindu celebration of Lord Krishna’s birthday. Lord Krishna is the 8th reincarnation of Lord Vishnu. There are devotional songs and celebrations through midnight to ring in the Lord’s birth on Earth. People observe fasting, stay up all night and celebrate Dahi handi the next day with a lot of zest and devotion for dear baby Krishna. Janmashtami signifies the love of the Lord for food. This article discusses traditional Janmashtami recipes and healthy recipes. You can get nutritious snack ideas for this auspicious day.
Baby Lord Krishna loved dairy products. He relished fresh white butter, curd (yogurt), ghee, and such milk products. He thoroughly enjoyed stealing butter from neighboring households in Mathura and Vrindavan. He is fondly called “Makhan chor” or “butter-thief”.
Here are some easy Janmashtami recipes prepared lovingly by devotees to offer the Lord and distribute among others as “Prasad”.
Janmashtami sweet recipes
- Pedas
Pedas are sweets. They are made with high-fat high sugar ingredients like mawa or full cream, sugar, and whole milk. - Kheer
Boil milk with sugar and rice or vermicelli. Add nuts to it. - Makhan mishri
Grind mishri or khadishakkar (large white sugar granules). Add this to fresh white butter and serve immediately. This is an absolute favourite in Vrindavan as it was Krishna’s favourite food. - Dhania Panjiri
This is popular in Punjab and north India. Roast Dhania or coriander powder well in ghee till it changes colour. Then add powdered sugar and roasted dry coconut. Mix it well with ghee sautéd foxnuts (or makhana) and dry fruits. This is a fasting or snack food mainly for Krishna Ashtami in the North. - Panchamrut or 5 elixirs of life is namely the combination of milk, ghee, curd, honey and liquid jaggery mixture. It is quick to make and serve as a prasada or offering. These Prasadas are almost always high in fat and sugar. This is not desirable.
Top 5 Krishna Janmashtami healthy snack recipes are:
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Makhana Kheer
Makhana is also known as lotus stem seeds or foxnuts. Heat milk with some sugar. Add the roasted crispy makhana and enjoy the crispy snack. Cardamom powder, saffron and some nuts will add more flavour. -
Namkeen roasted Makhana
Saute some almonds and cashews in 1 Tbsp. Ghee. Roast the foxnuts separately and add to the mix. Add raw raisins and few pistachios. Add a dash of salt, pepper, mango powder. -
Puffed Amaranth or Rajgira mix
Puffed amaranth mixed with roasted peanuts and few grains of Khadishakkar is a quick fix “Prasada” and healthy snack within minutes. -
Ragi laddoos
Ragi laddoos are made with ragi (nachni), jaggery, some ghee and nuts. -
Ragi sattu
Cook ragi flour with coconut milk or cows milk, and a few chopped cashews.
These Janmashtami healthy snack recipes make use of nutritious foods which are rich in protein such as nuts and dairy products. Ragi and rajgira are rich sources of calcium, iron and fibre. Makhana (foxnut) is low in calories and has a low glycemic index. Low glycemic index foods are those which convert to blood sugar glucose very slowly in the body. This is desirable for diabetics and for weight management.
Hope you limit the high fat high sugar snacks offerings. I encourage you to make and enjoy these healthy snack recipes for Krishna Janmashtami 2019. They are great for those of you who are fasting. It is great to make and eat easy to fix healthy snack recipes and sugar free healthy desserts.
Pallavi Pinge is a Clinical Nutritionist and Dietitian | Content Director & Editor for health websites | has a passion for digital health and enjoys promoting health and wellness. She’s the founder and director of Ambrosia Wellness, where she provides personalized nutrition counseling, education, and coaching to individuals with various health conditions. You can follow her on her social media channels below to stay tuned in with the latest in health and wellness | Health Blog | Contact her for appointments |
