Halwa-Chana-Puri (Prasad for Kanchkein)
One of my favourite childhood memories is of Kanchkein � the day marking the end of 8 days of fasting for navratris (9 nights for the Goddesses)... I�m wondering about the 8 and 9-day confusion myself now! We typically had school, so it meant getting up early, getting dressed and running around in a little group of girls from one house to another � where we were welcomed, made to sit, our feet washed, holy red thread tied on our right hands and then we were fed � with some lovely halwa (sweet), dry black chana (black gram) and puri (deep fried bread). We also got money and/or gifts and stacked paper plates of food from each house. After the third house, we would be more excited about the money and gifts than the food� We typically had a week�s worth of tuck-money for school. One of my favourite gifts was a red dupatta with a gold gota border. My parents followed this religiously � and every year called little girls over� Most of my friends have either come home or eaten this love...