Shemrock Blog

Diwali being the greatest festival for Hindus, it was celebrated with great pomp and show in the Shemrock school premises. The whole school was decorated very tastefully with fresh flowers & Shimmers. Children came in a party dress and did ‘Lakshmi Pooja’ in a specially – set Temple in the school premises with the idols of Lakshmi ji & Ganesh ji. And also worshiped coins and jewellery and sang Arti (Om Jai Jagdish Hare).

All the aspects related to Diwali were explained to the children in a very interesting way. They were also told that this day is also celebrated as a day of home coming (Ayodhya) of Lord Rama after 14 years of exile. Everyone wears new clothes on Diwali and exchanges gifts & sweets among friends and relatives. At Shemrock, the things which are related to Diwali were put up on the Display Boards. Children had special festive treat and gifts on this occasion like Diyas, Chandeliers & Swastik Signs to carry to their homes.

The concept of, “Say No to Crackers” was also explained with its disadvantages. Children may get hurt, if they don’t burst crackers under elders supervision. They should be extremely careful while lighting candles & diyas at home. In fact, this task should be done by elders / parents; the children should simply watch from a distance. Children were told to celebrate Diwali in a environment friendly manner.

Here are some yummy recipes for Diwali

BESAN LADDU

Ingredients:
500 gm besan, sifted
500 gm ground sugar
200 gm ghee
1 tsp green cardamom or elaichi , powdered

Preparation :
Heat the ghee until it smokes, then lower the heat. Add the besan and fry on a medium heat until it is of golden colour. Take it off the fire for two or three minutes and add the sugar.

When it is cooled to a comfortable temperature, grease your palms with ghee and form the mixture into balls.

Set aside to cool and harden. Store in air-tight containers.

MALPUA
Ingredients :
1 cup sugar
1-1/2 cups wheat flour
4 tbsp yogurt or curd
10-15 whole peppercorns
Milk
Water

Preparation :
Make a batter of all of these dry ingredients and the dahi, using 1/2 milk and 1/2 water till it is thick and of pouring consistency, similar to pancake or dosa batter. Whip till smooth. Add the 10 peppercorns. Keep aside and allow it to rise for about two hours.

Heat oil on medium flame. Drop large ladlefuls into the oil to form circles of 6-8 inches. Typically the dough will sink and line the bottom of the karhai and rise up in the shape of a disc. Fry till golden. Drain and pat off the oil. Serve with cream or garnished with pista. Serves five.
Mini Samosa
Here is the recipe of Mini Samosa that can add a salty flavour to your Diwali Sweets.
Ingredients
• 2 cups of all purpose flour (maida)
• 1 cup of vegetable oil
• Salt (depending upon the taste)
• moong daal (soak 6-8 hrs in Plenty of water with baking soda)
• 1 tbs red chili powder
• 1 tbs garam masala
• 1 tbs coriender powder
• 1 tbs salt
• tbs amchur
• 3-4 pinches asafoetida powder
• tbs cumin seeds
• Vegetable oil for frying
Method
• Grind the moong daal with minimum quantity of water.
• Add oil in heavy pan.
• Add cumin seeds, asafoetida powder and daal paste in it.
• Stir it properly. Add salt,garam masala,coriender powder,chili powder and amchur powder.
• Stir it until the mixture dried very well.
Preparation for cover
• Sieve all-purpose flour, add salt.
• Add vegetable oil (so that you can make bowls) and mix it very well.
• Then add small quantity of water and make smooth dough.
• Make small round rolls with dough.
• Roll it like chapatti (chapatti should be around 4-5 inches in diameter).
• Cut it into 2 equal halves along the diameter.
• Put small water along the diameter.
• Join and press together to make a cone.
• Place a tbsp. of filling in the cone and seal third side as above.
• Make five to six. Put in hot oil, deep fry on low to medium till light brown.
• Do not fry on high, or the mini samosas will turn out oily and soggy.
• Drain on rack or kitchen paper
• Serve hot with green chutneys.

Diwali is one of the biggest festivals of Hindus, celebrated with great enthusiasm and happiness in India. The festival is celebrated for five continuous days, where the third days is celebrated as the main Diwali festival or ‘Festival of lights’. Diwali is celebrated 20 days after Dussehra, on the 13th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Ashwin (October / November).
The First day of Diwali : Dhanteras
The five day long celebrations kick off with the 1st Day being celebrated as Dhanteras. Dhanteras or Dhantryaodashi, which falls on the thirteenth day of the month of Ashwin, is day of shopping for steel utnesils and is considered very auspicious.

The Second day of Diwali: Narak Chaturdasi
It is the 14th lunar day (thithi) of the dark fortnight of the month of Kartik and the eve of Diwali. On this day Lord Krishna destroyed the demon Narakasur and made the world free from fear.
The Third day: Diwali – The Festival of Lights
On the dark new moon night, the entrances to all homes are lit up and decorated with rangoli patterns to welcome Lakshmi, the radiant consort of Vishnu and the goddess of wealth and lustre. Also Lakshmi Puja is performed on this day.
Diwali is the last day of financial year in traditional Hindu business and businessmen perform Chopda Pujan on this day on the new books of accounts. Diwali is the festival when the new business year begins.
The fourth day: New Year day or Bestavarsh or Govardhan Puja
The Fourth day is called Padwa or VarshaPratipada that marks the coronation of King Vikramaditya and Vikaram-Samvat was started from this Padwa day.
The day after the Laxmi Puja, people celebrate the coming of the New Year by dressing in new clothes, wearing jewellery and visiting family members.
On this day, Goverdhan Pooja is also performed. As per Vishnu-Puran, the people of Gokul used to celebrate a festival in honour of Lord Indra and worshipped him at the end of the monsoon. But Lord Krishna stopped them from offering prayers to Lord Indra, who in anger sent a deluge to submerge Gokul. Then, Krishna saved Gokul by lifting up the Govardhan Mountain and holding it over the people as an umbrella.
Also, this day is observed as Annakoot and prayers are offered in the temples. In Mathura and Nathadwara temples the deities are given milk bath and dressed in shining attires with ornaments.
The Fifth day of Diwali: Bhai Dhooj
The second day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksh) of Kartik is called “Bhaiya-Duj”. It comes once a year – after Diwali. The name itself is an explanation of the festival. Diwali falls on the dark night of Amdvasya or the new moon and Bhaiya Dooj comes just two days after Diwali.
There is an old story which tells us why Bhai Dhuj is celebrated. Yamraj, the Lord of death visited his sister Yami one day. To welcome her brother, Yami put the auspicious tilak on his forehead, they ate, talked and enjoyed together and exchanged gifts as a token of their love for each other. Yamraj was very happy and hence announced that anyone who receives tilak from his sister on this day will never be thrown in hell.
Since then it became imperative for the brother to go to his sister’s house to celebrate Bhaiyaduj. On Bhai Dooj, the teeka is applied on the brother’s forehead. It is a day dedicated to brothers and sisters.