Celebrate Dahi Handi: Discover Why Dahi is So Handy!

Dahi Handi is a vibrant and joyous festival celebrated primarily in Maharashtra, India, on the day after Krishna Janmashtami. This festival commemorates the playful and mischievous nature of Lord Krishna, who, as a child, loved to steal curd (dahi) and butter from the neighborhood. To protect their dahi from Krishna ji and his friends, villagers would hang pots of curd (Dahi Handi) high up, out of reach. 

Similarly, to celebrate Dahi Handi in the modern era, people get together and hang an earthen pot (Handi) filled with Lord Krishna favourite curd, butter, and other milk products high above the ground. Teams of young men, known as Govindas, form human pyramids to reach and break the pot. 

Dahi, curd, or yogurt - whatever you choose to call it - plays a central role in this festival, symbolizing purity and nourishment. The festival highlights the importance of dahi in Indian culture, not just as a food item but as a symbol of joy, unity, and tradition.

Truely, from celebrating Dahi-Handi and giving spoonfull of Dahi-Shakkar for good luck, to using it in our kitchen, Dahi is incredibly versatile and handy in everyday life, especially in Indian cuisine and culture. Here are some ways dahi proves to be indispensable:

1. Culinary Uses: Dahi is a staple in many Indian dishes. It can be used to make raita, a cooling side dish, or as a base for marinades, enhancing the flavor and tenderness of meats and vegetables. It’s also essential in making dishes like kadhi, a yogurt-based curry, and dahi vada, a popular snack. It sure is a handy food to have in the fridge.

2. Health Benefits: Dahi is rich in probiotics, which are beneficial for gut health. It aids digestion, boosts the immune system, and can help in maintaining a healthy balance of gut bacteria.

3. Cooling Effect: In hot climates, dahi is often consumed to cool the body. It can be enjoyed as a refreshing drink, like lassi or buttermilk, which helps to hydrate and cool down the body especially during summer.

4. Skin Care: Dahi is also used in various beauty treatments. Its natural properties can help soothe sunburn, moisturize the skin, and even out skin tone. It’s often used in homemade face masks and scrubs for its exfoliating and hydrating benefits.

5. Cultural Significance: Beyond its practical uses, dahi holds cultural importance in many Indian rituals and festivals.

There are countless tips on how to set a good firm dahi. In fact, what has baffled many is how to set dahi without the starter. How many times have you realized that the last of the dahi is over and you forgot to keep a bit of starter for the next lot! Then it is either a store bought jar of dahi or some from the local dairy. 

To make perfect yogurt

Heat a litre of whole full cream milk, bring it to a boil and reduce to around four cups. Remove from heat and cool it till it comes to a temperature of 45° C. Add one tablespoon of thick yogurt and mix evenly with a spoon or churner/whisker. Transfer the mixture into an earthenware pot and allow to set in a warm place (at 43°C) for four hours (in summer, otherwise may take longer). In winter or in places at higher altitudes one can always wrap the pot in which you are setting the yogurt in a blanket or a similar warm wrapping. Always remove a small quantity aside for setting the yogurt for the following day before you consume the rest. Refrigerate once set. 

Handy tips

• Instead of using lemon juice for making paneer, put three to four teaspoons of dahi in the boiling milk and stir. You will get soft and pure white paneer.

• If your dahi has become too sour, drain off the water by tying it in a muslin cloth and hanging it for about 15 minutes. Add milk or water to the residue.

• To prevent dahi from turning sour, do not add salt while making raita, etc. Add it just at the time of serving.

• Add small fried pieces of bread to very well beaten dahi. Sprinkle salt, cumin powder, red chilli powder and you have some quick dahi vadas for the family. 

Fun food 

I love the way my mother makes dahi bhalle…she stuffs the bhalle with nuts and raisins. I also enjoy Gujarati Kadhi a lot. Who can deny the pleasures of a well made Dahi Batata Puri that is probably as popular as a street food as bhelpuri! Dahi makes a fantastic marinade for chicken and meat preparations. In fact, hung yogurt has its own following. Can make sandwich filling, can make dips, can make shrikhand, or can also make some kababs! 

Curd rice, a simple mix of curd and rice – sometimes tempered, sometimes not – is the famed meal ender in the southern parts of the country. Dahi Idli is also a filling and healthy snack. Go North, and lassi is THE beverage! Mishti Doi from Bengal is a super dessert made with reduced milk. 

These dishes are my top choices because the flavour and texture of Dahi is highly visible and proves to us exactly why Lord Krishna went out of his way to steal pots of Dahi from his neighbours.

Today let's celebrate Dahi Handi, 

      May Lord Krishna shower his unending blessings on each and every one of us. 

Recommended recipes -  Dahi Papad Ki Sabzi,  Mixed Fruit Yogurt Brulee,  Masala Papdi With Dahi Boondi,  Dahiwale Amrud,  Dahi Wale Aloo,  Dahi Bhindi