Happy Holi With Rose Thandai

India tomorrow will be celebrating the festival of color-HOLI. This is one of my favorite festival, because irrespective of race, religion, cast and creed every body today is playing and painting each other with colors. WE may not be always aware that colors play a very important role in our life .We are drawn to colors- needed to bring balance in our lives, which is the main goal of every healing. The use of color as a therapy is a truly holistic and powerful for thousands of years.
In our world color dominates our live from reading sign in the roads to seeing a fruit whether ripe or not or the vegetables are in good condition or not color play a vital role.
 It affects our mood blue is calming while red can make us tense. We are living in a colorful world but some time we forget to appreciate this gift of life. But today in India and all over the world where there are good number of Indians (like US,UK, South Africa, Trinidad and many more) along with the citizens, will celebrate color with great passion.
 HOLI in India signifies light , life and surge of energy. Earth cast off her darkness and is ready to entrenched in the bright color of life.
This is also an important religious festival in India because it also signifies the love of Lord Krishna and Sree Radha. The mischievous cute Krishna took different colors and colored Radha and the Gopis . He also used to play with pichkaris ( big syringes tusked to sprinkle colorful water). This instance thus become an occasion of merry making every year. It is this mischievous spirit of courtship that enters this festival. Holi thus honors the Divine love of Lord Krishna and Sree Radha.
Shed the black from your life and take the red, yellow and greens . Discard pessimism and take a view on the brighter side. It is the time to sing ,dance ,laugh ,love, color all, color yourself , color your life – says Holi. Wishing you all A Very Very Happy Holi!
Rose Thandai is a very delicious drink a special holi treat for you all. A yummy milky delight with gorgeous vibrant color and rose flavored will raise up your festive spirit.

Preparation time  2 to 3 hours
Cooking time  10 minutes
Serves   5 to 6 
Ingredients :
1liter  milk   
1 cup condensed milk
1 tbsp aniseed
1tbsp almond 
1 tbsp watermelon seed
½ tbsp poppy seed
5 whole pepper corn
few strands of saffron  strand
1  tsp of rose water or to taste
few drops of rose color
sugar to taste 
a pinch of salt
4 tbsp of fresh cream
 
Methods of Cooking

Boil milk in a pan and let it cool. Soak watermelon seed, aniseed, almond, poppy seed, pepper and saffron strands in 1 cup of water. Make a smooth paste.Add the rest 1 cup of water and strain through muslin cloth.Add milk, rose water, rose color, sugar, pinch of salt with this mixture. Mix well till the sugar complete dissolve. Chill about 2 hour before serving mix fresh cream. Now serve this yummy, creamy chilled delight and enjoy a very happy holi with family and friends.

Happy Cooking!