Bhai Dooj has various names in various parts of India. Bhai Phonta, Bhratri Dwitiya, Bhai Tika, and many more ornate the spirit of this festival even though the emotion behind the celebration of this day remains the same. On this day brothers and sisters get together and indulge in the festivity and merriment. One of the most prominent and attractive parts of the traditions involved is offering sweets to the brother. So here is a compilation of 8 exclusive sweets to India that are prepared and sent for Bhai Dooj specifically which serves as a good gift for bother on Bhai Dooj.
A common task in bengali households on the day or the day before Bhai Phonta is running to the sweet shop for a stuffed packet of crispy sweet khaja. With people getting lesser time to spend in the kitchen, the art of making this delectable fried sweet is slowly getting lost. A khaja looks a lot like puff pastries but unlike those baked western delicacies it is fried. It is made with flour and ghee which is kneaded well and then shaped in layers. This is then fried and dipped in sugar syrup briefly and then dried.
The delicate milky flavour and the rich taste of the dry fruits infused in it makes the various Dry fruit sweets an evergreen favourite. This popular sweet comes in various shapes and flavours. The most common of these being the Kaju barfi. These sweets are an amazing energy booster and extremely good for the body, especially during the winter. So something that is healthy as well as tasty, must be on the list of sweets on this special day.
A nice steaming bowl of halwa made from the aromatic moong dal is the creme-de-la-creme of deserts for Bhai Dooj. It is wholesome as well as a delicious dish that is flavoured with cardamom and garnished with your choice of dry fruits.
The iconic Indian sweet - Gulab Jamun is loved by one and all here. The kneaded khoya, milk, flour and semolina balls are fried to a perfect brown before being dipped in a sweet and scented syrup. This melts-in-the-mouth sweet is everyone’s favourite and also the perfect dish for Bhai Dooj all across India.
Just like Khaja, the quintessential “Bhai Phota shondesh” too is an important part of this special celebration. This is made of chenna (cottage cheese) and nolen gur (date palm jaggery) which is a seasonal ingredient and is only available in winter. Hence on Bhai Phonta, this is a must-have sweet. This shondesh also has a specialty. The circular disc-like pieces have the word “Bhai Phonta” engraved on it.
These ladoos are irresistible. Period. Made with besan, Motichoor Ladoos are one of the most delicious Indian sweets. The soft bite-sized balls of crushed boondis have a delicate texture that pleases the palate like no other.
Anarsa is a typical sweet of Himachal Pradesh where it is made on auspicious festivals like Diwali and Bhai Dooj. It is made from a dough prepared with rice flour and jaggery. This lip-smacking sweet snack is a fried dish that is garnished with sesame or poppy seeds.
Malpua is an all-time favourite sweet dish in India. While it is commonly made in various festivals and occasions, this savory also has different recipes in different parts of the country. This sweet dish resembles the western pancake in a number of ways. To prepare this a batter of thickened milk, rice/wheat flour and bananas is made. It is then deep-fried till it turns brown and the edge crispens. The other varieties of this dish often exclude the bananas and instead add sugar to sweeten it. There is also another type where this fried piece is later dipped in sugar syrup.
