Celebrating Holi In Uttar Pradesh? Must Try These 7 Festive Treats

Holi in Uttar Pradesh is the most joyous time of the year, bigger than Diwali. While the festival welcomes summer, it also brings out lip-smacking treats from the kitchen, one after another. From Varanasi, where Lord Shiva is worshipped, to Mathura-Vrindavan, where Lord Krishna spent his formative years, the festival of colours strikes a chord with everyone in different ways.

There is phoolon ki Holi, Lathmar Holi, Masan ki Holi, Laddoo ki Holi, Keechad ki Holi, and many others. What is common among all is the festive treats that people share with friends and family. If you are celebrating it in Uttar Pradesh this year, below are some treats that you cannot miss.

Peda

Peda is a speciality of Mathura and Varanasi. There are only limited shops in other cities where you can find the sweets that would melt in your mouth. The mixture is prepared by slowly roasting khoya with sugar and cardamom powder. Its creamy texture, fresh flavours, and richness can make dessert people experience nirvana in just a bite. Available in varieties, you cannot skip indulging in it.

Also Read: Unique Holi Dishes From Bihar, West Bengal & Maharashtra

Shakarpara

Mathri or namakpara is a common snack prepared in Indian households; its sweet variant, shakarpara, is cooked on Holi in Uttar Pradesh. These are like deep-fried sweet bites that you can store in airtight jars for a couple of weeks. Some coat it with sugar syrup, but you can use powdered sugar too. Roll maida dough, cut it into strips, deep-fry them, take them out of oil on a tissue, and soon enough coat them with powdered sugar.

Gujiya

There is no place than Uttar Pradesh where you can find flaky, soft, and melt-in-mouth gujiyas. Trust the author when she says to visit a friend around Holi rather than buying gujiyas in the market. Most shops have heavy and thick variants. However, people make these at home using maida. The dough is rolled into a thin disc which is stuffed with khoya and deep-fried with sealed edges. The market ones are heavy on the palate while homemade ones are light and delicious.

Besan Ladoo

Holi is the perfect time to make ladoos. Since the weather is neither too hot nor cold, ladoos don’t melt to become halwa or stay frozen. If you use the right proportion of sugar, besan, and ghee, the lemon-sized bites are appetising, so much so that people with no sweet tooth can also enjoy them.

Rabri

Rabir is prepared around Holi, and it is relished with other items like kulfi, malpua, and shaved ice topped with flavoured syrups. Made of thickened and flavoured milk, this treat is available across street food stalls in Uttar Pradesh. The multi-coloured preparation matches the theme of Holi and appeals to everyone’s eyes.

Pua

Pua in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are slightly different. Though both are deep-fried, people in UP make this delight for Holika Dahan puja. Usually, wheat is kneaded into a soft dough, and it is later stuffed with sugar or sugar mixtures. You can give it any shape before deep-frying, but make sure to seal the edges or the ghee will spoil. It can be served with rabri to make an irresistible combo.

Thandai

Thandai is prepared in many states during Holi, but Uttar Pradesh will introduce you to many variants. Around many temples, especially the ones dedicated to Lord Shiva, there are shops where you can get bhang which is mixed with bhang. Many shops in cities and towns sell delicious thandai mixture that you just have to mix with milk and the beverage is ready in no time.