My Ashtami celebrations

This year Ashtami was really different and lots of fun. Ashtami is the eight day of the Navratri celebrations. All those who fast throughout the Navratris, break their fast on the eight day. Kanya Pujan is done on that day, where in eight little girls are called home and made to eat "prasad" and given gifts like bangles, earrings etc.

Finding little girls was difficult, so I made the prasad and went to the mandir for Kanya Pujan.

Its such a sweet sight to see. Small girls all sitting in huge circles with their goody bags collecting their goodies, from everyone. It was adorable.

After getting ready, in the morning I decorated my little corner and made the prasad. The prasad consists of black chana, puri and suji halwa. It was good fun coz I had a few friends over for lunch, and then later in the evening we went for dandiya and garba.

Though the chanas I made were pretty straight forward and simple but still here goes the recipes.

You will need:

• 1 cup of Black chana
• 2 tbsp Oil
• Salt
• ginger and green chillies
• 1 tsp red chilli powder
• 1 tsp jeera dhania powder.

You have to :

1. Soak chanas over night. Pressure cook them with salt.
2. Heat oil in a pan. add the ginger and the green chillies.
3. Add all the spices and put the boiled chanas.
4. Saute it all, cover and cook till all the masala has coated the chanas.
5. Its all done.

This year I kept the fast and celebrated Ashtami first time after four years of coming here to the US. It really felt good. I realised that all this keeps us involved and sure makes us feel all the more festive.

Hope Durga Ma showers her blessings on all.

More later.