Another year has passed, and the same old us. We both are making progress, me a bit matured & experienced, Vedika a bit taller & sincere.

But there is one thing that remains the same, that is her love & concern for her adorable Little Krishna.

Today is Janmashtami, a day when Lord leaves his abode in Vaikunth and descends on earth. And unlike last year, we are very well prepared or rather I should say she is well prepared n excited to welcome the lord, promptly reminding me of all the things needed.

Fresh flowers, dhup, dhuno(incense sticks), panchmeva (dry fruits) everything ordered & delivered by the store.

And now comes the most interesting part, the bhog prasad (food offered to deity while worshipping) about which I am constantly getting reminder from a week now that I should be making my best SCD sweet and it must be something very traditional.

“But why SCD, now that you are doing well and you do eat regular sweets occasionally, don’t you”?

So, this year we can offer him some regular (milk based) sweets, what do you think? I tried to reason her. But her response made me proud & startled with joy at the same time, after all it came from an innocent heart that is full of love & gratitude.

“Just imagine Maa, He will get those regular sweets wherever he goes, and it is obvious to get bored of those stuff. So instead I want Him to try something different and, I want him to know that my mom cooks the best diet food in the world which is super healthy and delicious.”

 She does not want to miss any chance of bragging about her mom’s culinary abilities, I cannot help but smile at this innocent gesture.

“He is fond of our earnest devotion & faith, without having any doubt in our mind. Faith that he shall guide us the way to pass the storm and stress of our life with wisdom & ability.  These offerings are mere acts of devotion calculated to give him pleasure,” I tried to explain her.

I know these ideologies may not make sense to her right now, but I’m sure she will find it more relevant as she grows.

For now, on this auspicious occasion of Janmashtami when the Lord shall descend on earth, she is ready to welcome her adorable little Krishna and offer him Mohanthaal, one of his favorite. After all its named after him.

My humble attempt to recreate a century old classic sweet from Western India, carefully tweaked to suit the dietary guidelines yet keeping its essence intact.