Honey Walnut Shrikhand with Apple

Gudi Padwa Special- Sugar free Shrikhand with apple and dry fruit, a healthy treat!

Honey Nut Shrikhand with Apple- a healthy treat!

Gudi or Gudhi Padva is a spring-time festival that marks the traditional New Year according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar. It is the first day of the month of Chaitra.

This holiday is celebrated by many other names in different states of India and is called Gudi Padhwa in the state of Maharashtra. Offices and schools are closed and people celebrate by cleaning and decorating entrances to their homes with ‘torans’ -garlands made of marigold flowers and mango leaves, and by erecting gudis. Gudi is a special flag made for the day and hoisted outside the house on top of a bamboo pole. The gudi is made with festive silk cloth, neem and mango leaves, a garland made of sugary disks and topped with a kalash, which is an upturned copper pot.

The bitter neem leaves are good for health and along with the sweet sugar garland, it symbolizes that life is bittersweet but we overcome the hardships and emerge victorious. The gudi symbolizes victory, as it did for Lord Ram and for King Shalivahan and is also called Brahmadhwaj – Lord Brahma’s flag. It is believed that Lord Brahma created the universe on this day.

The traditional sweet in Maharashtra is the Shrikhand which is offered to God and then shared with family and friends. I am thankful that so many of you have written to say that how much you liked the Kesar Pista Shrikhand in 30 minutes.

This year, I decided to make a sugar free, Apple Honey Walnut Shrikhand. Combined and layered with fresh and dry fruit and sweetened with honey, this is truly a healthy treat. I like the crispy crunchy texture of the apple juxtaposed with the silky smooth Shrikhand. You may add other fruit as well.

Here is the recipe-

Happy Gudi Padwa all! Happy New Year!

Love,

❤

Sandhya