A heartfelt ode to the rich cultural legacy, tradition and history of a nation marked by its colourful diversity, Republic Day is celebrated every year as a marker of unity amidst many regional differences. It is an earnest, vibrant celebration, and what ties our festivities together are several sweet treats which symbolise the great regional diversity this nation offers.
Preparing these sweets at home for Republic Day is a splendid way to mark the occasion, to revel in their deeply embedded symbolisms, rich regional fervour and of course, sheer deliciousness. What’s more, these are also desserts tinted with colours like saffron, green and white, such that they become a nod to hues significant for the nation.
Read More: 5 Mocktails You Can Stir Up On Republic Day
Kesar Shrikhand
Hailing from western Indian regions such as Maharashtra and Gujarat, shrikhand is a popular dessert prepared by churning strained yoghurt and sugar in a delightfully sweet, decadent and creamy mixture. Infuse the shrikhand with premium quality kesar or saffron so it gets a naturally golden, orange hue which looks rather luxurious. Silky, smooth, delicately sweet and lightly tangy, kesar shrikhand can either be served as a dessert at the end of a celebratory meal or it can be served with warm puris in a classic western regional shrikhand-puri fashion. Garnish the dessert with a couple of saffron strands while serving, for an added flourish.
Coconut Barfi
Made from freshly scraped coconut and sugar, and finished off with light touches of crushed cardamom, coconut barfi from the southern Indian provinces can be the small-bite sweet treat you distribute among neighbours and friends to mark the national holiday. Coconut barfi carries the subtle sweet and creamy notes of the fresh fruit coupled with a richness which oozes from the fragrance of cardamom wafting off platters of neatly arranged barfis. Easy to make and one of the best sweets for sharing with a large crowd, a plush white coconut barfi stands in for meaningful themes like peace, purity and prosperity.
Pista Roll
All things rich, decadent and vibrantly green, a sweet roll made using pistachios stuffed in khoya, this is a rather visually striking mithai to prepare on the festive day. What lends the pista roll its brilliant aesthetic is also the edible silver leaves garnish which adds just a little bit of sparkle into the sweet bite. This nutty, rich and aromatic dessert from the northern parts of the country might seem complicated to prepare but actually follows quite a straightforward recipe. It is the perfect dessert for gifting or for arranging on a decorative platter for distributing to guests. Pista rolls can close the luncheon you host at home on this special day.
Gajar Ka Halwa
Perfectly orange and decadently sweet, gajar ka halwa made from fresh carrots available in abundance during the winter weather is one of the most apt and colourfully relevant desserts to prepare on Republic Day. Adorn the creamy halwa enriched by khoya, with crushed nuts and raisins. Indulgent and comforting, the gajar halwa is best served warm, as a side dish with a wholly festive meal. For a more contemporary twist, serve the warm gajar halwa with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and turn it into an indulgent dessert savoured post a festive dinner.
Paan-Flavoured Sandesh
Hailing from the eastern regions, sandesh is a very popular Bengali sweet treat made by mixing cheese curds or chenna and sugar. It is generally accentuated with simple spices like cardamom or saffron but over time different sandesh variants have become crowd favourites. One of them is the fresh, paan flavour infused sandesh that leaves the palate feeling bright and refreshed. With a subtle green tint and light, milky flavours, this dessert is best served chilled as a lightly sweet end to a full meal.