Diwali is known as the festival of lights and is celebrated with vibrant decorations, immense joy, and cherished traditions across India. But when it comes to Maharashtra, one of the most awaited aspects of Diwali is Diwali Faraal. It is basically an assortment of traditional savory snacks and sweets that are prepared for Diwali. For Maharashtrians, Faraal is not just food; it’s an emotion that represents the warmth of homecoming, preservation of culinary heritage, and the joy of sharing. So let’s explore Maharashtra’s festive snacks in this guide.
Maharashtra’s Diwali Faral
Diwali Faral is a quick festive snack or light meal that features many dry snacks, both sweet and savory, and can be preserved for weeks. The traditional Maharashtrian household begins preparing these snacks days or even weeks before Diwali begins. It plays a central role during Diwali Padwa and Bhau Beej when guests and relatives visit. A large steel plate is packed with these delicacies along with masala tea and is exactly how guests are welcomed in a Maharashtrian household during Diwali.
List Of Traditional Diwali Snacks
1. Chakali
No Faral platter is ever complete without Chakali because it is the undisputed king of the festive platter. It is a deep-fried, spiral-shaped snack that has a prickly exterior and is loved for its signature crunch and earthy flavor. The secret to making an authentic Maharashtrian chakali lies in the Bhajani, which is the special flour that is used to make it. The dough is seasoned with chili powder, sesame seeds, turmeric powder, and carom seeds. It is pressed through a star-shaped mold directly into hot oil. A perfect chakali is not oily, is crispy, and crumbles delightfully with every bite.
2. Karanji
Karanji, which is similar to gujiya in North India, is a delicate half-moon-shaped pastry that is deeply aromatic and sweet. The outer shell of this pastry is made of a fine dough of maida and rava for a flaky, crispy texture. The highlight is the sweet stuffing inside, which is made using powdered sugar, dry grated coconut, poppy seeds, cardamom, and nutmeg. In some households, they also use jaggery and fresh coconut, but they have a shorter shelf life because fresh coconut is used. The pastry is carefully crimped using a decorated cutter and deep-fried to a gentle golden hue.
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3. Shankarpale
Shankarpale are bite-sized, tiny diamond-shaped biscuits that are simply addictive. They actually come in two variations: one is the sweet one, and the other is savory. The sweet one is made by kneading maida with milk, ghee, and sugar. The dough is rolled and cut into a diamond shape and then deep-fried on low heat. A nicely fried shankarpale is multi-layered, flaky, and melts in the mouth. Now, the savory shankarpale is flavored with carom seeds, cumin, salt, and chili powder, which offers a savory alternative that is relished with tea.
4. Poha Chivda
Chivda is the ultimate savory snack that offers a crunchy, light contrast to all the sweet items on the platter. The most popular version is Patal Poha Chivda, which is made with paper-thin flattened rice, or Bhajki Poha Chivda, which is made from roasted flattened rice. The thin rice flakes are gently roasted until crisp. A tempering tadka of oil, green chillies, curry leaves, mustard seeds, and turmeric is prepared, to which thin slices of dry coconut, channa dal, and cashews are added. This tadka is gently tossed with the poha and stored for a long time.
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5. Laddoos
Laddoos are the sweet anchors of every Faral thali, which offers ghee-infused little bites of celebration. A typical Maharashtrian Faral platter has at least two types of laddos:
Besan laddoo
This laddoo is made by patiently and slowly roasting gram flour in pure ghee until it turns golden brown and releases a nice nutty aroma. It is then cooled, mixed with powdered sugar, nutmeg, and cardamom, and rolled into dense, melt-in-the-mouth spheres, which are decorated with a single cashew on top.
Rava Laddoo
This laddoo is a wonderful variation that combines the crunch of roasted semolina, which is bound together with ghee and sugar syrup. These laddoos are stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
6. Chirote
Chirote are multi-layered, visually stunning festive pastries that represent the artistry of homemakers. They are made from rave and fine flour, with the dough being rolled into multiple thin sheets, which are layered with a paste of rice flour and ghee. It is rolled into a log, sliced, and rolled again to bring the layers together when fried. Once fried, they are dusted with powdered sugar or dipped in sugar syrup, which results in a flaky, sweet, and airy indulgence.
Note: This article was compiled after verifying current publicly available information.
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Summing Up
Whether you are relishing a plate of Diwali Faral at a friend’s place or purchasing it from a shop, Diwali faral is a celebration of flavor and history in Maharashtra. Each bite of these carefully crafted snacks carries the blessings of prosperity, the warmth of hospitality, and loads of love!
