Halavah

At the end of Dvapara-yuga, all the cowherd men of Vrndavana had arranged to worship King Indra, but they gave this worship up, following the advice of Krsna. Instead, they performed a ceremony whereby they worshiped the cows, brahmanas and Govardhana Hill. At that time Krsna expanded Himself and declared, "I am Govardhana Hill." In this way He accepted all the paraphernalia and food offered to Govardhana Hill. It is stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.24.26, 31-33):

pacyantam vividhah pakah
supantah payasadayah
samyava-pupa-saskulyah
sarva-dohas ca grhyatam

kalatmana bhagavata
sakra-darpam jighamsata
proktam nisamya nandadyah
sadhv agrhnanta tad-vacah

tatha ca vyadadhuh sarvam
yathaha madhusudanah
vacayitva svasty-ayanam
tad-dravyena giri-dvijan

upahrtya balin sarvan
adrta yavasam gavam
go-dhanani puras-krtya
girim cakruh pradaksinam

" 'Prepare very nice foods of all descriptions from the grains and ghee collected for the yajna. Prepare rice, dal, then halavah, pakora, puri and all kinds of milk preparations like sweet rice, sweetballs, sandesa, rasagulla and laddu.'

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, therefore advised the cowherd men to stop the Indra-yajna and begin the Govardhana-puja to chastise Indra, who was very much puffed up at being the supreme controller of the heavenly planets. The honest and simple cowherd men, headed by Nanda Maharaja, accepted Krsna's proposal and executed in detail everything He advised. They performed Govardhana worship and circumambulation of the hill. According to the instruction of Lord Krsna, Nanda Maharaja and the cowherd men called in learned brahmanas and began to worship Govardhana Hill by chanting Vedic hymns and offering prasada. The inhabitants of Vrndavana assembled together, decorated their cows and gave them grass. Keeping the cows in front, they began to circumambulate Govardhana Hill." - Sri Caitanya Caritamrta -Madhya lila

Ingredients

• 1 cup semolina
• 1 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2-3 slivers of saffron
• 4-5 tbsp Ghee/clarified butter
• 5-8 cashew nuts
• 2 tbsp raisins
• 1/3 cup pineapple chunks (optional)

Method of Preparation

1. In a deep bottomed pan roast the semolina for 5 minutes on medium low heat.
2. In another pan add 1tbsp ghee/clarified butter. Fry the cashew nuts and raisins till golden brown. Remove it from the pan and keep aside. Add the remaining ghee to the pan. To this fold in the semolina.
3. In a cup of warm water soak the saffron.
4. Add the water to the semolina. Also pour the remaining 1/2 cup water and stir well on medium low heat. Also add Sugar.
5. Once the water is absorbed fold in pineapple chunks, cashew nuts and raisins. Leave it on low heat of few minutes.

Offer to the lord of your heart and Serve hot