Makar Sankranti holds special significance in Hinduism. On this day, the Sun God transitions from the Sagittarius (Dhanu) zodiac to Capricorn (Makar). According to the Hindu calendar, Makar Sankranti will be celebrated on January 14, 2025. It is believed that performing activities like taking a holy dip in the Ganga, donating, and engaging in prayers can enhance one’s fortune on this day. People often prepare khichdi and til (sesame) ladoos made with roasted sesame seeds, jaggery, and saffron. If you’d like to make Til-Gud ladoos to make the occasion special, here’s a simple recipe.
Ingredients for Til-Gud Ladoo:
- 250 grams of sesame seeds (til)
- 250 grams of jaggery (gud)
- 2 tablespoons cashews
- 2 tablespoons almonds
- 7 to 8 crushed green cardamom
- 2 teaspoons ghee (clarified butter)
Steps to Make Til-Gud Ladoo:
- Heat a heavy-bottomed pan and roast the sesame seeds over medium heat while stirring continuously until they turn lightly brown. Once roasted, remove them from the pan and let them cool slightly. Crush half of the sesame seeds lightly.
- Now, combine the whole and crushed sesame seeds in a plate.
- In the same pan, heat one tablespoon of ghee and melt the jaggery over low heat. As soon as the jaggery melts, turn off the heat. Let the jaggery cool slightly.
- Once the jaggery is cool, add the roasted sesame seeds and mix them well. Add cashews, almonds, and cardamom powder to the mixture. Your mixture for making Til-Gud ladoos is now ready.
- Transfer the mixture to a plate and let it cool. Once it has cooled enough, grease your hands with ghee, and start forming small round ladoos with approximately one tablespoon of the mixture each.
- Let the ladoos set in open air for 4-5 hours.
Your delicious Til-Gud ladoos are now ready! Enjoy them during Makar Sankranti and bring in good luck and prosperity.