Cook With Devotion: 8 Recipes For Hanuman Jayanti

Hanuman Janmotsav marks Lord Hanuman's birthday.

Born to apsara Anjana and Kesari, a powerful vanar, who ruled from Mount Meru, Lord Hanuman is considered the go-to god in battles of good over evil. He is also a valuable protector.

He is celebrated, on this day, in temples and homes in India and in other lands where he is revered.

His favourites, food-wise, are fruits, of course, and Bundi Laddus, Kheer, Jalebis, among other items. Draw up a menu for Lord Hanuman and choose what you would like to feed him from these 8 recipes:

A menu for Lord Hanuman

Boondi Laddus recipe

Photograph: Vidhya Pant for Rediff

1. Boondi Laddus

First on this list had to be his fave laddus, created from tiny, golden pearls of fried besan flour which are drenched in sugar syrup. Vidhya Pant hows you how to makes these melt-in-the-mouth delights.

Please find the recipe here: Boondi Laddus

Panjeeri Recipe

Photograph: Kumar Nachiket for Rediff

2. Panjeeri

Ghee, wheat and nuts go into the crunchy, powdery sweet called Panjeeri that is an instant energy booster. Kumar Nachiket offers a recipe.

Please find the recipe here: Panjeeri

Sabudana Kheer recipe

Photograph: Taruna Deepak for Rediff

3. Sabudana Kheer

Taruna Deepak shares her mother's recipe. It is a creamy, luscious dessert sweetened with palm jaggery. And is gluten-free.

Please find the recipe here: Sabudana Kheer

Doodh Jalebi recipe

Photograph: Suresh Thampy for Rediff

4. Doodh Jalebi

Jalebis were surely invented to be dipped into milk. Suresh Thampy, unusually, also adds cornstarch in his jalebis so they turn out crisper.

Please find the recipe here: Doodh Jalebi

Photograph: Rasotsav for Rediff

5. Malpua

Another irresistible Indian sweet, we doubt Lord Hanuman would refuse a Malpua! Maharaj Ganga Singh deep fries discs from a batter of all-purpose flour, wheat flour, khoya (milk solids), spiced up with saffron and cardamom.

Please find the recipe here: Malpua

Jaggery Gulgule recipe

Photograph: Welcomhotel Amritsar for Rediff

6. Jaggery Gulgule

Wholewheat, jaggery-sweetened, deep-fried little delights, they are ideal for a festive nibble.

Please find the recipe here: Jaggery Gulgule

Imarti recipe

Photograph: Kind courtesy Sarkar Sayantan/Wikimedia Commons

7. Imarti

Sanjeev Kapoor's variation of the jalebi is somewhat fatter, has a slightly different texture and when you bite into it, the sugar syrup squirts into your mouth a bit differently, but boy is it yummy -- one bite and you're grinning.

Please find the recipe here: Imarti

Besan Ke Laddoo Recipe