Makar Sankranti Special Treat: Narayanji Gol Chikki at OLRAA

Have you noticed certain festivals that are unmarked in calendars, but somehow make their way to your kitchen? For me, it is Makar Sankranti that starts with the sounds of jaggery melting, and the scent of roasted peanuts filling up the entire house with warm aromas. I used to believe that the sun changed its direction to come see people enjoying these winter treats.

Makar Sankranti is one of those festivals that feel both new and old at the same time. It signifies a period of change and is a moment of togetherness, and with unspoken understanding, that jangris, treats, and are meant to be distributed. My love for festive Indian sweets has evolved over the years, and for me, sweets have come to represent so many memories. Of all the treats, Narayanji Chikki is my all-time favourite. It is honest, humble, and has deeply rooted traditions.

Here, weanalysee why sweets, such as til chikki, peanut chikki, sesame sweets, and others, still hold prominence. We also analyse how OLRAA and similar platforms facilitate the free movement of such traditions globally, without compromising their integrity.

The Meaning of the Makar Sankranti Festival Beyond RitualsA sun-dominated festival

Among the many festivals celebrated by the Makar Sankranti is the one that is celebrated when the sun reaches the most northern point in the sky (a phenomenon also referred to as the Northern). In agricultural communities, the Makar Sankranti celebration signifies the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. October is the time when families get together, rejoice, and express their gratitude. Makar Sankranti is celebrated in many countries with different names. In the South, it is referred to as Pongal, in the North as Lohri, and in the East as Magh Bihu. In all cases, the essence of the celebration remains the same.

What connects these festivals is a celebration of warmth, bountiful harvest, and togetherness as reflected in simple rituals such as:

• Making seasonal sweets at home, like during Makar Sankranti

• Offering food to the sun as a sign of appreciation

• Exchanging chikki with neighbors

• Sharing sesame seed sweets while uttering sweet words

Simple as they may seem, these have great meaning.

Why do sweets hold significance in winter?

Sweets made with jaggery and sesame seeds, along with other desserts, help to warm the body. Because they are high in healthy fats and minerals, they provide a balancing effect. Way before the days of nutrition labels, Indian kitchens understood balance.

This is why during this time, sweets like til laloo, malai gajak, and chikki are sold. They are practical, comforting, and carry significance.

When someone says, "Tilgul ghya, god god bola," they are not just offering a greeting; they are inviting someone into the relationship.

The Art of RestraintWhat sets Gol Chikki Apart?

Simply put, it is the restraint demonstrated by the makers of Gol Chikki. There are no artificial or extraneous materials. The peanuts are cooked beautifully. The jaggery is cooked balanced. There are no shortcuts and no sticks. Simply put, there is no excess.

Most chikki is made in the form of flat slabs. However, Gol Chikki stands out by making small, round chikki pieces. This is Advantageous in a number of ways.

• It is perfect for portioning and sharing with groups.

• It makes it easier to sustain the chikki’s crunch, providing it with a uniform texture.

• It ensures a balanced sweetness in every bite.

• It results in a longer shelf life due to being handmade.

A fresh piece of Gol Chikki breaks with a satisfying crunch and an enveloping sweetness that is not overly overpowering. The flavours of Gol Chikki are balanced and invite you for another bite.

A Craft Honed over Generations

Many traditional confectioners do not have the benefit of attending formal schools. The ability to assess jaggery's stickiness by sound and the years dedicated to understanding how the jaggery’s consistency is interpreted through the smell is a form of knowledge that transcends books. Narayanji Gol Chikki embodies this legacy.

Indian sweets are more than just food; they are part of life's celebrations with stories passed down from generation to generation.

For Indians living abroad, cooking Makar Sankranti sweets is a way to experience the tastes of home.

Makar Sankranti Sweets are Celebrated Cultural Narratives

Makar Sankranti sweets are more than desserts; they are cultural narratives. They tell stories of community and togetherness. Til ladoo reminds us of family and community gatherings. Malai gajak is a reminder of the cold winter evenings spent in the northern part of India. Peanut Chikki reminds us of the long train journeys and munching on snacks during school lunch breaks.

Makar Sankranti sweets teach us the wisdom of the seasons and the everyday realities of life. They offer the winter bounty of the season, are made from locally and seasonally available ingredients, are minimally processed, and are naturally preserved. They are meant to be shared and not hoarded. They reinforce the connection between the food and the blessings that are offered.

Makar Sankranti sweets are made with ingredients like jaggery, which are best not to be consumed in a hurry. The preparation process teaches us to be mindful. Sesame seeds are easy to burn, and jaggery hardens if you rush it.

In this way, the process of making Makar Sankranti recipes is a form of meditative practice.

Sharing and giving

Gifts mark Makar Sankranti shopping traditions. Sweet and kind greetings are exchanged among neighbors. To send sweets over long distances, people search the internet for Makar Sankranti specials and tilgul laddu.

The time and effort that goes into selecting a gift is far more important than the monetary value. Giving instructions regarding delivery, availability, or timeframes for a given celebration is appreciated, as it helps streamline the planning process.

For those who need assistance with festive gifting, delivery timelines, or availability across regions, connecting with the OLRAA team can help make celebrations smoother and more meaningful.

Indian Festive Sweets in a Global WorldPeople’s shared celebrations

With the Indians, their celebrations are also transported. Every January, the kitchens in London, Toronto, Dubai, and Sydney smell of sweets from the homeland.

The world has changed the way people perceive shopping for Makar Sankranti as follows:

• A preference for the traditional over the contemporary.

• A growing interest in unique traditional sweets like Narayanji Gol Chikki.

• Seasonal Makar Sankranti products have a sentimental value that is only appreciated once per year.

When OLRAA focuses on serving over 80 countries from Indian online retailing, OLRAA also focuses on the shift in the culture that has begun to value these traditions and has provided the necessary accessibility while preserving the traditional value.

To understand the people, values, and journey that guide OLRAA’s approach to preserving Indian traditions, you can explore our website here.

A growing trend of trust, customisation, and authenticity in holiday foods is also seen.

When it comes to food, especially classic sweets, a sense of trust is desired. People desire the food to have a known origin and preparation method, and people quickly become familiar with the texture and taste.

People celebrate Makar Sankranti with Narayanji Gol Chikki, among other sesame sweets,s which have remained true to their origins. Family members abroad use these to celebrate the festival.

Conclusion

Makar Sankranti represents the warmth of positivity. As the seasons change, people share love along with jaggery and sesame. An example of this warmth and positivity is Narayanji Chikki, the simplicity of honest ingredients, which resulted in the joy of many.

Most importantly, Indian celebrations offer the same experience whether you are in a lively Indian gathering or a calm celebration in a distant land. They symbolize the sweet customs, the bonding with nature, and the togetherness.

The OLRAA website illustrates this connection, where the traditions are framed with user-friendly modern technology and made accessible worldwide. It is the culmination of 'people, purpose, and place' and offers a story to the inquiring mind, those wishing to walk alongside us, and those wishing to understand the origin of our customs and traditions.

Finally, may our celebrations of Makar Sankranti be joyous and filled with meaningful exchanges, the sweetness of which will sustain us for another cycle.