Sonia Mishra/Chamoli. While the customs, culture, language spoken and food habits have changed with time, the villagers living in the rural areas of Uttarakhand are still following their age-old customs and even today, whenever any auspicious work is done in the villages or When daughters return to their in-laws’ house in the month of Chaitra, their parents give them Arase (pahari sweets), which is also called Kaleu. Even today in the hilly areas, Arsa is given to women in the month of Chait, the way of making it is also special.
Urmila Devi, a resident of Gauchar in Chamoli district, tells Local 18 that to make aarse, ingredients easily available at home are used, which include rice, sugar, water, oil and jaggery. To make Arsa, firstly the rice is soaked for about 4 to 5 hours. When the rice gets wet, the water is removed from the rice and kept in a soft cloth, so that it dries thoroughly. After this, the women of the village grind this dry rice finely in ‘Okhli’ (Urkhayal and Ganjyu). At present women are also grinding it in mixer. Then knead the prepared rice flour. On the other hand, jaggery is melted well on hot flame and now small balls of this dough are put in hot oil and fried until it becomes golden in color. When the rice is cooked, it is put in a kandi (a vessel made of ringal). After which they give gifts to their daughters (married daughters) in Malu leaves or in boxes.
Women eagerly wait for Kaleu
Gauchar resident Pramod Semwal, who is knowledgeable about local customs, tells Local 18 that the month of Chaitra has great significance in the mountains. This month everyone goes to give Kaleu (sweets) to their married daughters, for which women eagerly wait. He explains that this tradition dedicated to the women of the mountains expresses the feelings and sensitivities related to the woman’s maternal home, in which this mountain sweet Kaleu i.e. Arsa plays a very special role.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: March 19, 2024, 17:49 IST
