Krishnashtami at my place is a matter of delight for kids, Only snack day . The typical dish of the day is Mosru Avalakki (beaten rice with yogurt and seasoning). Avalakki being the favourite snack of Lord Krishna they say. A Sketch of Balgopal by my girl.. adorned the pooja room with my other pictures this time.
I told this story to my girls as a part of the festive day.. This is what I found perfect to write in Indokidz... you can find more stories here.
The story of Sudhama is described in the Bhagwat Purana, an ancient scripture of the Hindus.
Sudhama was a poor brahmin boy who became a close friend of Krishna in sage Sandipani's hermitage. Krishna learnt to chant from Sudhama.
Once, Sandipani's wife asked Sudhama and Krishna to get some wood from the forest. While they were collecting the wood, a storm came and they got lost. Sudhama was scared. Krishna held his arms and assured his safety. When the storm was over, they found their way to the hermitage. Sudhama was relieved. Sandipani blessed them with a long life and happiness.
After completing their studies, Sudhama and Krishna went their own ways. Krishna became the king of Dwarka and married princess Rukmini, the goddess of prosperity. Sudhama, on the other hand, married a simple brahmin girl and began to lead the life of a devotee, reading scriptures, praying, forsaking worldly pleasures. Everyone loved Sudhama. His family was quite happy.
Then Sudhama's wife gave birth to two children. Because of Sudhama's austere life style, the family began to face difficult days, with little food to eat and no clothes to wear. Sudhama's wife was extremely devoted to her husband but when her children began to suffer, she was concerned.
Finally on a cold night, when her children were without blanket, she approached Sudhama and humbly said, "Aren't you and Krishna, the lord of Dwaraka, friends? And, Krishna married to the goddess of prosperity, Rukmini?"
Sudhama replied, "Yes."
Sudhama's wife dreamed of seeing an improvement in her family's poor condition. She earnestly said, "Go my lord, I beseech you, for the sake of our dear children, meet Krishna."
The very prospect of meeting Krishna, his old friend, made Sudhama happy. "I will go and see him, but I will not ask him for anything." Sudhama's wife could hardly conceal her joy. She happily said, "Even a visit to Krishna will bless our family. Do not ask anything from him. I will be content my lord."
Just before his departure for Dwaraka, Sudhama came to his wife. Both had the same thought. "What will I give to Krishna when I see him after such a long time?"
Sudhama's wife suddenly remembered, "My lord you used to tell me that Krishna immensely loved Poha, the flattened rice!" Sudhama too remembered Krishna's great liking for Poha . Sudhama's wife ran to her neighbor's house and they happily gave her the gift of Powa in a small bundle. Sudhama then set out on his long journey to Dwaraka.
When Sudama came to the palace, surprisingly enough, no one stopped him.
He looked through various rooms and finally located Krishna and Rukmini. When Krishna saw Sudama he ran to embrace him. Then Krishna sat down and washed Sudama's tired feet with warm water and put sandalwood paste on them.
After the royal meal, they all settled down to chat. Krishna and Sudama exchanged the happenings of their lives since they departed from Sandipani's hermitage. Suddenly Krishna noticed a small bundle on Sudama's waist. He remarked, "Ah! You have brought a present for me!"
Sudama hesitated, "How do I give a king, a poor man's Powa?" When Krishna noticed that Sudama was ashamed to give him the bundle, he remarked, "Sudama, the poorest gifts given to me with love is dearer to me than the richest of gifts given without love." Krishna was thoughtful, "He has not come to ask anything for himself. He came out of love for his wife and me." Then he quickly snatched off the bundle and opened it. There it was, his favorite Powa! He tossed some in his mouth with great satisfaction. Then they talked and talked, as old friends, to their heart's content. Sudama could not ask anything from Krishna.
Next morning Sudama bid Krishna and Rukmini farewell. The long road back home did not seem to be that hard as he thought of Krishna. When he reached home, he was amazed to see that a huge mansion was standing in place of his poor hut. His wife and children, wearing new clothes, came to receive him. He could hardly recognize them. Sudama felt the touch of the all-knowing Krishna who had rewarded Sudama for his gift of love.
Sudama continued to lead the life of a hermit while his family enjoyed the generous gifts of wealth from Krishna. 
So during the Janmasthami festivities we do make a lot of snacks which have avalakki/poha /beaten rice as a main ingredients.
MOSARAVALAKKI.
We do make Bisibele avalakki too .
Today I am sharing the recipe of
Mosaravalakki , will post Bisibele avalakki and Kaibella avalakki soon.
MOSARAVALAKKI (BEATEN RICE WITH YOGURT):
This is a very tasty and easy to make snack. Filling and healthy too..
Tasty Mosaru avalakki
Ingredients:
2 cups thick – Thick Avalakki
2 cups of yogurt – Mosaru
1/2 cup freshly grated coconut.
1 or 2 green chillies very finely chopped
few coriander leaves finely chopped
a sprig of curry 1 cup milk,( optional)
the usual seasoning ingredients.(cumin, mustard, chana dal, urad dal and 1tsp oil)
Method:
Wash the avalakki, beaten in water twice and then let it soak for about 15 minutes.Then add the yogurt, salt to taste , grated coconut and coriander leaves.In a small pan, heat oil. Add all the seasonings add the dals after the mustard splutters then add green chillies and curry leaves. Mix this seasoning with the above avalakki mixture. If the yogurt is thick or sour, add milk .
Enjoy the Mosru avalakki.
Have a happy Janmashtami. Jai shri Krishna.
