Khichdi Mavas - a Kashmiri Ritual !!!!!!

KhestiMavas - Supposed to be a very Important Fetsivals in Kashmiri Pandits, celebrated on Amavasya....I have been following this small ritual from Childhood, as it holds a special place in my palate & hence in my heart... This is one ritual, which sees the Household prepare some very  really delicious, meaty & sumptous meals ...

There is a Mutton Khichdi which is prepared .. A very simple Khichdi along with Fresh Mutton, from the Thighs, Lamp Chops, Legs ..... Mutton is tendered by marinating with bity of curd to soften it ... The Khichdi has nice balance of Spices ....

The Mutton Khichdi --with right balance of spices

The Lightly flavored taste of the Mutton Khichdi is complimented by having it with a Fiery, spicy , Mutton Roganjosh .....Carefully selected Meat from the few areas of the Goat, namely Lamb Chops or Mutton Chaamps, Raan, Thighs, Chest..add greatly to the taste of the RoganJosh ...and this is Classic RoganJosh we are talking about .. This gravy doesnt use any Onions, No Garlic, No Tomatoes, No Puree - Purely Spices Like Garam Masala, Kashmiri Chillies, Cardamom, Cinnamom, Little saffron, if you , want, and you get a really fine, really spicy Mutton Curry

Mutton RoganJosh......... Lamb Chops....

Well this was about the food, that is so special to this Important Ritual... Mutton Khichdi & Mutton RoganJosh, that add so greatly to the appeal of this festival. I am sure some people would like to know a bit about the history of this ritual...Pl read on

Khetsimavas:

There are several other festivals and Puja rites peculiar to Kashmiri Pandits, some of them dating back to hoary antiquity. One  such distinctly Kashmiri festival is Khetsimavas or Yakshamavasya which is celebrated on the amavasya or the last day of the dark fortnight of Pausha (December-January). Commemorative of the coming together and co-mingling of various races and ethnic groups in prehistoric Kashmir, khichari is offered on this day as sacrificial food to Kubera indicating that the cult of Yaksha existed there from very early times. Khetsimavas appears to be a folk-religious festival - a pestle, or any stone in case that is not available, is washed and anointed with sandalwood paste and vermilion on this evening and worshipped taking it to be an image of Kubera. Khichari is offered to him with naivedya mantras and a portion of it is kept on the outer wall of his house by the worshipper in the belief that Yaksha will come to eat it.

Thats KhestiMavas or Khichdi Mavas for you