Thaandal/Thandai Maha Shivarathri Special Drink

Maha Shivarathri, the night of the worship of Lord Shiva, occurs on the 14th night of the new moon during the dark half of the month of phalguna. It falls on a moonless night in the month of February or march When Hindus offer special prayer to the lord of destruction. Shivratri( Sanskrit 'ratri'means night) is the night when he is said to have performed the Tandava Nritya or the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction. The festival is obesreved for one day and one night only.

As a child i have distinct memories of watching storm of people visiting the Lord Shiva temple on Maha Shivaratri to Srisailam in Kurnool District which is 217 km from Hyderabad.

In the morning after, our day used to begin by offering a mixture of milk, beal patra, ber(bor) to the Lord shiva. Standing in the queue to reach inside the temple, while listening to Bhajans of Shiva and chants of "Om Namah Shivay", watching small kids throeing tantrums to get the various toys being sold in the 'mela' or fair around.

Toys like spinning paper wind-wheels, flutes, amusing whistles, puppets, dugdugis(a rattling drum), diffrent dkind of rattled , strinking snakes, small toys made from bamboo sticks, puppets attactched to sticks which would roll and excite the kids, jump perform acrobats, move hands and feet etc.

The cart drums ( Known as Gadi Bhajo), when dragged would make a drumming noise and kids used to enjoy this one the most and to forget those joker caps with frills of paper.. Ahhh the kids delights in simple pleasures!

The thandal or Thaandai is the another highlight of this festival and the ,most popular one. People used to flock over the Milkrose, boiled legumes, Dal bread etc.

SO today on the occasion of Mahashivaratri, let me share with you the recipe of Thaandal or Thandai, a very refreshing drink made from milk, poppyseeds flavoured with the strong aromatic black pepper, green cardomom, rose petals, etc.

INGREDIENTS:

.Cantaloupe or water melon seeds 5gms
. Green Cardomom 2 1/2 gms
.Black pepper corns 1 1/2 gms
. Almonds 25gms
.Khuskhus or poppy seeds 12-13 gms
.Dried red rose petals 3-5
.Fennel seeds 1 tsp
. Milk Approximately 600 ml
. Sugar 350-500 gms (As per taste)
. Water to adjust the consitenvy and to strain the paste
. Saffron and unsalted pistachio to garnish

Instructions

. Soak Almonds, poppy seeds and melon seeds in some water or milk for 4-5 hours .Peel the skin of almonds and grind the almonds soaked poppy seeds and melon seeds, along with blackpepper corns, choti elaichi, fennel seeds and rose petals in a mixer grinder adding some milk or water as required, till a smooth paste is obtained

. Now take a large bowl or container and strain the paste through a fine muslin cloth, straining the mixture with the help of some milk or water.

. Strain it multiple times, each time adding some more water milk or water, till a dry husk is left behind, Discard the husk.

Now add to this mixture, sugar milk and water check the flavours, if too strong, dilute with more milk and water.. and mix well till sugar dissolves completely.
serve chilled.. really chilled.