Chaitra Navratri Festival 2018 - Bhog For Day 1 Of Navratri

Sharad Navaratri 2017 commences on Thursday, September 21. One of the most popular Hindu festivals, Navratri is celebrated to honour Goddess Durga in her nine avatars. The first day of Navratri is dedicated to Devi Shailaputri, the first form of Maa Shakti also known as Navdurga. Born as the daughter of Himalaya, Shailaputri literally means daughter (putri) of the mountain (shaila).

# Kesri Kheer

Ingredients

2 liters - Milk
1 cup - Long Grain Basmati Rice
16 green Cardamoms (peeled and powdered )
40 strands - Saffron (soaked in 1/4 cup hot milk)
15 tbsp - Sugar (or as per taste)
15 Almonds (sliced)
15 chironji or sunflower seed
15- 20 raisins (washed and soaked )

Method

* Wash and soak the rice in water for 20 minutes.

* Drain out the water from the rice and grind it coarsely.

* Boil the milk in a heavy bottomed vessel.

* After a boil add the rice and stir continuously. Simmer.

* Stir at regular intervals so the rice does not stick to the bottom of the vessel.

* Add the saffron and cardamoms.

* Boil till the rice is cooked and the milk thickens.

* Add sugar and cook till the sugar dissolves.

* Finely slice the almonds and add it to the kheer. Add soaked raisins and chironji to the kheer cook for 2 more min.