Makar Sankranti 2022: Make Ellu Urundai with this simple 4-ingredient recipe

]

‘Til ke laddoo’ is a classic Sankranti special sweet dish. (Photo: Madhur Bhog/ Instagram)

Makar Sankranti is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India. The joyous day marks the end of winter and the beginning of longer, warmer days. Referred to as Bihu in east India, Pongal in south India, and Uttarayan in west India, this harvest festival is celebrated with heart warming delicacies like dahi chooda, undhiyu, khichdi, and of course, til ke laddoo.

Already have an account? Sign In

This premium article is free for now.

Subscribe to get unlimited access to The Indian Express exclusive and premium stories.

This content is exclusive for our subscribers.

Subscribe now to get unlimited access to The Indian Express exclusive and premium stories.

This content is exclusive for our subscribers.

Easy to make and nutrient-rich, sesame laddoos are a guilt-free indulgence for those with a sweet tooth. This Sankranti, however, swap white sesame seeds with the black ones and try a super easy ‘Ellu Urundai’ recipe by chef Sanjeev Kapoor that requires just four ingredients.

“A nutrient-rich delicacy with very few ingredients, Ellu Urundai, is a must during winter!” the chef captioned the Instagram post.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sanjeev Kapoor (@sanjeevkapoor)

ELLU URUNDAI

Ingredients

*I cup – Black sesame seeds

*1 cup – Jaggery

*¼ cup – Water

*Green cardamom powder

Method

Dry roast the black sesame seeds in a pan for 4-5 minutes. Take them out. Add jaggery to the same pan and let it dissolve. Then, add water and cook it till it has a one string consistency. Add the sesame seeds to liquid jaggery. Follow it up with a big pinch of green cardamom powder and mix it well. Lay out the mixture flat on a plate. Then, take grease your palms with some ghee and roll the sesame mixture into small balls while it is still warm.

📣 For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and don’t miss out on the latest updates!

Makar Sankranti 2022: Devotees celebrate by taking a dip in holy waters; see pics

]

India is a land of immense devotion and festivities, where we have a plethora of cultures and traditions. When it comes to the Hindu culture, Makar Sankranti is one significant festival dedicated to Lord Surya or the Sun God.

From the festival of Makar Sankranti, which is celebrated on January 14, days become longer and nights become shorter, and it marks the end of the winter season. Makar Sankranti is observed as a festival of harvesting of the winter crops, also known as the rabi crops.

As India observes Makar Sankranti today, let’s take a look at how it is being celebrated in different parts of India:

See pics:

Bihar: Devotees take a holy dip in the Ganga on the occasion of Makar Sankranti at Gandhi Ghat in Patna

Photo: ANI

“On Makar Sankranti, a large number of people come here for a dip, but there are less number of devotees due to COVID this year,” a local priest tells news agency ANI

West Bengal: People take holy dip at Ganga Sagar on Makar Sankranti

Photo: ANI

Uttarakhand: Haridwar, however wears in deserted look as devotees barred from taking a holy dip in Ganga on the occasion of Makar Sankranti amid a surge in Covid cases

Photo: ANI

Punjab: Devotees take a holy dip in ‘Sarovar’ at Golden Temple in Amritsar and offer prayers on the occasion of Makar Sankranti

Photo: ANI

Uttar Pradesh: Devotees take a holy dip in Triveni Sangam on the festival of Makar Sankranti in Prayagraj Keeping the Covid situation in mind, police forces have been deployed near the ghats to ensure Covid appropriate behaviour is followed: Rajeev Narain Mishra, SP Mela

Photo: ANI

(To receive our E-paper on whatsapp daily, please click here. We permit sharing of the paper’s PDF on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.)

Published on: Friday, January 14, 2022, 12:29 PM IST

]

Makar Sankranti 2022: Akshay Kumar prays for ’new hope and joy’ in everyone’s lives. (Photo: Akshay Kumar, Esha Deol/Instagram)

Makar Sankranti is being celebrated in India on January 14 and 15. The harvest festival is celebrated across India that marks the end of winter and the beginning of longer days as the sun moves northward. It is celebrated as Pongal, Uttaryan, Maghi, Lohri and Khichdi.

Already have an account? Sign In

This premium article is free for now.

Subscribe to get unlimited access to The Indian Express exclusive and premium stories.

This content is exclusive for our subscribers.

Subscribe now to get unlimited access to The Indian Express exclusive and premium stories.

This content is exclusive for our subscribers.

Many celebs took to social media to share their best wishes on the festival. Superstar Rajinikanth wished all on New Year while Akshay Kumar shared a photo where he was flying a kite.

Rajinikanth took to Twitter to post in Tamil, “அனைவருக்கும் என்னுடைய இனிய புத்தாண்டு நல்வாழ்த்துகள் (Happy New Year to everyone.)

Sharing a picture of himself as he enjoys kite flying, Akshay Kumar posted, ““मीठे गुड़ में मिल गए तिल… उड़ी पतंग और खिल गए दिल” May #MakarSankranti bring new hope and joy in your lives. Bas vishwas ki dor pakad ke rakhna.”

Hema Malini shared a photo as she cooked pongal. “Celebrated Pongal with the family today. Here I am making the pongal at home,” she captioned her photos from the kitchen.

Sharing a video of herself cooking in the kitchen, Esha Deol posted, “As the country celebrates the harvest festivals of Sakranti, Pongal, Bihu and Uttarayan . I always make pongal at home for my family ( a tradition I learnt from my grandmother) sweet pongal is a favourite with my kids & we all love screaming together “ polgalo pongal “ as it’s being cooked . Sending warm wishes to you and your loved ones. ♥️🧿 stay blessed.#pongal #pongalopongal #happypongal #happymakarsankranti #happybihu #happyuttarayan.”

Jr NTR shasred via Twitter, “మీకు మీ కుటుంబ సభ్యులకు భోగి, సంక్రాంతి, కనుమ శుభాకాంక్షలు. Wishing you all a very Happy Sankranthi.

A recent post on film RRR’s official Twitter handle read, “Wishing everyone a very #HappyPongal, #Bhogi, #Lohri, #MakarSankranti See you soon in cinemas.”

Preity Zinta Twitter recently, “May everyone be blessed with happiness & lots of prosperity this harvest season. Wishing everyone a very Happy #MakarSankranti #Uttarayan #Lohri #Pongal #Bihu.”

Makar Sankranti 2022 | See all wishes by the stars on the festival:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Esha Deol Takhtani (@imeshadeol)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shilpa Shetty Kundra (@theshilpashetty)

Happy Makar Sankranti!

Makar Sankranti 2022: Kite Sellers in Hyderabad Expect Good Sales Despite COVID

]

Hyderabad: Despite a massive surge in COVID-19 cases, kite vendors in Hyderabad are hopeful of doing good business this year by selling their colourful kites that have hit the markets ahead of the Makar Sankranti festival on Friday (January 14). A day before Makar Sankranti, shops in Dhoolpet were decorated with different colours of kites, manjha and lanterns that will be floated in the sky at night.Also Read - Makar Sankranti 2022: Celebrate The Festival With These Almond Based Recipes

A shopkeeper said that they are positive about doing a good business, though the prices of kites have increased due to the increase in raw material. However, the people in large numbers are still coming to buy the kites. Also Read - Makar Sankranti 2022: Haridwar, Rishikesh Put Complete Ban On Holy Dips In Ganga. Check Curbs Here

Parents are purchasing extra kites to restrict their children from going out of the house amid the threat of COVID, said another shopkeeper. Also Read - Odisha Bans Makar Sankranti, Pongal Celebrations Amid COVID Cases Spike | Check Fresh Guidelines

Anil Singh, a kite manufacturer in Dhoolpet said, “The kites here are very famous, not only kite but Ganesh idols, Rakhis are very famous. Gujarat kites made of plastic paper are exported from Gujrat and Pune. Here in Hyderabad only paper kites are made, this time the cost of paper and sticks used in making kites is very high, that’s why the kite prices are also high. The kites made here are of best in quality and best designs are printed on it.”

He said that people from other states also come here to buy the kites in Hyderabad’s Dhoolpet.

“The manjha is also very famous here and since the government had advised banning the Chinese manjha and we are also cooperating to that as birds get killed due manjha. The manjha is made of thread and we are selling it,” said Singh.

Singh further the stick used in the making of kite comes from Indore and as the transport has increased the cost of kites are also increased.

Kanhaiya Singh, a shopkeeper in the Dhoolpet area in Hyderabad, said, “Sankranthi is a seasonal festival and the kite that we are selling is made in Dhoolpet. The difference between Jaipur and Dhoolpet kites is that the kites made here has a thread and do not get torn easily and Jaipur kites are ruff and tuff. A Jaipur pound kite is 150 for dozen and a Dhoolpet kite is 180 for dozen and every year there is a shortage of Dhoolpet kites. Every year nearly 20 new kite shops are opened.”

He further said that because of Omicron the sales are high as everyone is at home and to restrict their children to the home, parents are buying extra kites.

Omprakash Namdev, a native of Madhya Pradesh said that he had come here to buy kites and they will celebrate the festival in Hyderabad with pomp and splendour.

“The best kites in Hyderabad are made here in Dhoolpet, so we buy kites from here. The Prices are medium not so high,” he added.

(With inputs from ANI)

Sankranti: Andhra Pradesh govt issues fresh GO for festival holiday dates

]

All government offices across Andhra Pradesh will remain shut between January 13 (Thursday) to January 16 (Sunday) on the occasion of the Sankranti festival.

Issuing a government order, the state said that the offices would be shut for Vaikunta Ekadasi, Bhogi, Makara Sankranti and Kanuma festivals over the next 3 days. The government modified its earlier order that had declared Janaury 14 to 16 as Sankranti holidays.

“In Partial modification of the orders issued in G.O.Rt.No.1997, General Administration (Poll.B) Department, Dated:26.11.2021, the Government hereby declare holidays on 13.01.2022 (Thursday), 14.01.2022 (Friday), 15.01.2022 (Saturday) and 16.01.2022 (Sunday) instead of 14.01.2022 (Friday), 15.01.2022 (Saturday) and 16.01.2022 (Sunday) on the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi, Bhogi, Makara Sankranti and Kanuma respectively,” a GO from the Chief Secretary to the Andhra Pradesh Government read.