Kaanole / Naag Panchami Special / Festive Cooking / Maharastrian Cuisine

Today is Naag Panchami , a traditional and holy festival Of India . Nature and animal worship has been a part of National culture for thousand of years. On this day Snake Gods (Naagas in Sanskrit)  are honoured and worshipped with great devotion. It is celebrated on the bright 5th day of the moonlit - fortnight of Sravana month ( July/August) .

This festival is celebrated in different regions with different customs. In some parts women observe fast on this day, people visit snake temples . Many worship the idols of Snake at home. In Maharsahtrian families , we generally draw the 5 hooded snake picture with either rangoli or on paper and offer prayers. During this time of the year, Snake come out from their holes as the rain water seeps into their homes. So the threat of Snake bite is more. People have faith that by worshipping Snake devta , they can seek immunity from snake bite.Farmers even do not dig the earth during this festival, so as not to harm the snake. 

Special sweet dishes are cooked on this day. In my family , since my childhood, we used to wait eagerly for Naag Panchami only to enjoy this special delicacies -  Suji Kheer and a special dish called kaanole . Kaanole are made from whole wheat flour and Jaggery. A dough is made with whole wheat flour , Jaggery syrup and oil and rolled out and made into small triangle shape kaanolas and then steamed in cooker. Served pipping hot with the Suji kheer.

Ingredients for Kaanole:   

•  Whole Wheat flour - 1 1/2cups
•  Grated Jaggery - 1/4 cup
•  Oil - 3 tbsp  
•  Pinch of Salt 

Method:

1. In a bowl take grated Jaggery and add some warm water to it to dissolve the Jaggery . Stir well. 

    2. Take wheat flour in a another bowl , add a pinch of salt and oil to the flour and using this Jaggery water knead into a soft dough.  Add more water if needed.

                                                                                                                                                        3.   Pinch a small portion of the dough and make a ball shape. Roll out it using a rolling pin to round shape by applying few drops of oil on the rolling board. Do not use flour for rolling. Now apply oil and fold it to half , again apply some oil and then fold one more time to form a triangle shape. 

 

 

 

     4.  Make all the Kaanole in similar way and keep them in a greased container and cook in a pressure cooker for 3 whistles.

    

  5.  Serve piping hot with Suji Kheer. Green Chili Pickle also goes well with the sweet Kaanole as a side dish.

                                                            

                                                              Happy Naag Panchami !!