Published 20:42 IST, October 21st 2019
Diwali snacks: Importance of eating sweets during this Indian festival
Traditionally Indian sweets are called ‘Mithai’. It is basically a symbol of happiness that we spread during Diwali and making these festivals memorable.
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Diwali is a festival of lights and sparklers. As the term "Festival of Lights" suggests, the celebration involves millions of lights floodlit from rooftops, doorways, and windows in thousands of temples and buildings all over India where the festival is majorly observed. It is also celebrated with traditional earthen divas and colourful rangoli artworks or designs on the floors. During this festival, family, and friends share sweets and gifts and greet each other. It is also traditional for houses to be cleaned and to wear new clothes during Diwali.
Why is Diwali celebrated?
Diwali is a festival celebrated by a large number of Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains all over the world. This festival mainly relates to the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. Diwali coincides with the Hindu New Year. The main reason why Diwali is celebrated is because on this day, Lord Rama and his wife Sita returned their kingdom from an exile after defeating the demon king Ravan in the 15th century BC.
Special sweets and delicacies eaten during Diwali
One wouldn't actually be celebrating Diwali without having sweet delicacies. Indian sweets come in a variety of colours and flavours. Indian families celebrating Diwali prepare sweets prior ten days to the festival. However, the celebration features various rich savoury and sweet dishes. While eating out is popular, families will mostly cook food at home for when the relatives arrive in and exchange gifts and watch fireworks. Each family celebrating Diwali will more than likely have its own favourite meal for the festival.
Why do we eat sweets during Diwali?
Traditionally Indian sweets are called ‘Mithai’. It is an old tradition of considering sweets to be pure and an offering to the gods. Sweets are a small gesture of greeting people, family, and friends with the joy of celebrating the festival. A wide range of choices of flavours and endless types are a must at any festival and especially Diwali. There are a hundred types of varieties ranging from laddoo, barfi, besan, gulab jamun, petha, halwa, and so many more. Some of the special mithai's that are prepared during Diwali are Gujjia, Gulab jamun, Coconut barfi, besan or flour laddoo's, etc.
14:16 IST, October 21st 2019