Teachers occupy a revered position in Indian culture and Guru Purnima celebrates the unique bond between teachers and students. It's a festival that transcends religion and is celebrated across India by giving guru Purnima gift for teacher, conducting poojas, and making Guru Purnima special recipes.
Significance of Guru Purnima
The word guru originates from the two Sanskrit words “gu” meaning darkness and “ru” meaning dispeller. Teachers impart knowledge and dispel the darkness. The importance of guru is also reflected in the ancient Indian saying “Matha, Pitha, Guru, Daivam”,( mother, father, teacher, god). The teacher comes even before God. In fact, Guru Purnima is celebrated as traditional teachers day in India. On this day students pay respect to teachers and give gifts.
In Hinduism, this day is marked as the day of birth of Veda Vyasa hence also called Vyasa Purnima. Veda Vyasa is believed to be the author of Vedas and many ancient texts. Guru Purnima is celebrated in the traditional “Ashadh” month which falls around June-July. In 2024, Guru Purnima falls on 21st July.
Many people also undertake fasting, do Guru Purnima poojas and cook “bhog”.God is also considered a teacher who removes darkness and leads us to light. Hence many people visit temples.
Healthy Recipes for Guru Purnima
The special recipes made during Guru Purnima include panchamrit/prasad, poori, choley, ladoos, burfi, kheer, subhundi khichdi and halwa. While observing fast, non-vegetarian food, grains, and salt are generally avoided. The dishes may vary according to region and culture.
How about we explore some healthy recipes to celebrate Guru Purnima?
1. Sweet Pongal/ Sharkara/ Jaggery Pongal
Sweet Pongal/jaggery Pongal is a sweet dish made during Guru Poornima. The sweet Pongal is made with green gram dal, Bengal gram, rice, milk, ghee, and cashew nuts mixed with jaggery.
Jaggery is a good source of minerals like iron, magnesium, and potassium which is important for overall well-being. Additionally, it is known to ease digestion, relieve tension, and purify the blood. It's also a good instant energy booster with 100g of jaggery providing around 383 calories.
2. Khichdi
khichdi is a much-loved Indian comfort food. The khichdi can be made from lentils or green gram which is super healthy. Lentils are a good source of protein and are easy to digest. 100g of moong dal provides 24g of protein. Additionally, moong dal has antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
Another special khichdi made during guru purnima is sabudana khichdi. Sabudana or sago balls are pearl-like. They are extracted from tapioca/cassava root. This sago or sabudana khichdi is a popular fasting dish due to its high starch content. It is basically carbohydrates hence provides an ample amount of energy making it a popular fasting dish. The sabudana khichdi is made by mixing sago balls with peanuts, grated coconut, potatoes and green chillies. Along with sabudana khichdi, sabudana vada is another snacking option.
3. Methi/Fenugreek Ladoos
Ladoos are integral to almost all festivals in India. Methi ladoos are made from fenugreek seeds, wheat flour, nuts, seeds, ghee, jaggery and dates. This ancient Indian superfood is a storehouse of vitamins including vitamin A. It also provides calcium, sulfur, and phosphorus. Fenugreek is a good source of dietary fibre and hence good for gut health. Fenugreek is known to manage blood sugar, and cholesterol, aid hair growth and promote lactation in new mothers.
Other famous Indian laddoos include motichoor laddus, gond laddus, til ladoos and the list goes on. You can make healthy ladoos with ingredients of whole wheat, nuts, and ghee and sweeten them with dates and jaggery. millet Ladoos are another healthy option.
4. Sugar-free Almond Pista Burfi
You can make burfi with dry fruits, pistachios, almonds, milk and sweetened it with honey instead of refined sugar. Honey has a lower glycemic index of around 58, less than refined sugar. Honey gives an energy boost of around 304 calories per 100g. Additionally honey is helpful in weight loss and good for the heart. Both almonds and pistachios are loaded with many nutrients.
5. Millet Kheer
The kheer is a must-have for any Indian festival. The kheer can be made healthy by making millet kheer and adding sugar alternatives like jaggery and dates. The millets are gluten-free and nutritious. You can add nuts, and seeds and also try different types of kheer like carrot kheer, rice kheer etc.
Cherishing Tradition and Celebrating Teacher Student Bond!
On this occasion of guru poornima, let's remember all those teachers who guided us and gave us the strength to move ahead in life. While celebrating this special occasion, don't forget to embrace healthy eating!
