Janmashtami, a vibrant festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna. People across the India prepare varieties of traditional treats.

Each region has its own unique flavors and specialties for the celebration. Here’s a closer look at some of the most popular sweets enjoyed during the auspicious festival:

Rich and Delicious treats from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh

Panjiri

Panjiri is a nutritious and energizing sweet made from the mixture of whole wheat flour, ghee and dry fruits. It is popular in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, celebrated for its great taste and health benefits.

Makhan Mishri

This simple yet delightful treat is made from fresh white butter mixed with sugar crystals, symbolizing Lord Krishna’s well-known love for butter.

Kaju Katli

These thin, delicate and diamond-shaped sweets made from cashew nuts and sugar are often topped with edible silver foul, making them a luxurious treat.

Balushahi

Balushahi resembles like a shiny doughnut. It is a crispy, deep-fried sweet soaked in sugar syrup , famous  for its special texture and delicious flavour.

Kalakand

Kalakand is a sweet treat that is soft and grainy, made by cooking down milk and sugar. It is often with pistachios, making it a rich and enjoyable dessert.

Sweet and Rich treats from West Bengal and Odisha

Malpua with Rabdi

These deep-fried Indian pancakes are soaked in sugar syrup and served with Rabdi, a thickened milk desert, creating a delicious dish.

Rasmalai

Rasmalai consist of soft, spongy cheese balls that are soaked in sweet, thick milk and topped with nuts. People love it for its delicate flavor and creamy texture.

Sandesh

Sandesh is a sweet treat made with fresh paneer (cottage cheese) and sugar. People usually flavor it with cardamon or saffron, which provides a light and tasty flavor.

Chhena Poda

Cheena Poda is a baked sweet made with fresh panner, sugar and semolina. It has a caramelized top and a rich baked flavor.

Creamy and Savory taste from Maharashtra and Gujarat

Shrikhand

Shrikhand is a creamy desert made from strained yogurt and infused with saffron and cardamon. It is a popular choice for its smooth texture and rich flavor.

Gopalkala

Gopalkala is a savory dish made from flattened rice, yogurt and coconut. It is often offered as prasad and enjoyed for its refreshing taste.

Puran Poli

Puran Poli is a delicious flatbread filled with a blend of jaggery and split chickpeas, seasoned with cardamom. People enjoy this traditional dish during Janmashtami.

Basundi

Basundi is a rich and creamy desert made by boiling milk until it thickens. People flavor it with cardamon and saffron.

Modak

Modaks are streamed or fried dumplings filed with a sweet mixture of coconut and jaggery. People traditionally linked Modaks to Lord Ganesha but also enjoy them during Janamastami.

Tilgul

People create Tilgul by forming small balls or discs from sesame seeds and jaggery. Thus, it becomes a festive treat. It symbolizes peace and goodwill.

Unique and tasty treats from Rajasthan

Meethi Mathri

Meethi Mathri are sugary, flaky biscuits drenched in sugar syrup, giving them a tasty crunch and sweetness.

Ghevar

People make Ghevar by shaping a round disc from flour and subsequently soaking it in sugar syrup. People usually top it with Rabdi or mawa, making it a rich and delicious desert.

Ariselu

People deep-fry rice flour cakes called Ariselu, sweeten them with jaggery and flavored with sesame seeds. Moreover, this process results in a rich and flavorful treat. People love them for their special texture and flavor.

Buttery and spongy treats from Karnataka, Odisha and Tamil Nadu

Mysore Pak

Mysore Pak is a delicious sweet with melt-in-the-mouth texture. The rich and buttery flavor comes from combining gram flour, ghee and sugar.

Rasgulla

Rasgulla consists of soft, spongy balls of Chhena (Indian cottage cheese) that soak in a light sugar syrup. As a result, it becomes a sweet treat. It has a light and fluffy texture.

Kozhukattai

Kozhukattai features steamed rice flour dumplings filled with sweet coconut and jaggery. Consequently, People often enjoy this traditional sweet during festivals.