Vasant Panchami and yellow rice

Spices for Vasant Panchami and yellow rice

Yellow is the colour of Vasant Panchami, the spring day devoted to Saraswati, goddess of learning. Cooks make meethe chawal or kesari bhath, sweet rice tinted with saffron or turmeric and scented with cardamom and cloves, and in Bengal the day features khichuri and kul chutney. Mustard fields are in bloom across Punjab, so the colour of food matches the colour of the land. Children are often given their first letters on this day, and sweets are handed round.

The spices

SaffronDyes kesari bhath and sweet rice yellow.TurmericA cheaper yellow used where saffron is out of reach.CloveStudded in sweet rice for warmth.