As regional New Year festivals are being celebrated across India, Organic India has introduced a range of traditional sweet recipes made with natural ingredients, encouraging healthier festive choices rooted in Indian traditions. The initiative, backed by Tata Consumer Products, highlights the use of jaggery and khandsari sugar as alternatives to refined sugar, aiming to combine nutrition with cultural authenticity during celebrations.
Among the featured recipes is Vermicelli Payasam prepared with Organic India jaggery, where roasted vermicelli is cooked in milk and blended with jaggery, cardamom, and ghee-fried cashews and raisins. The company also suggests Sakkarai Pongal made using khandsari sugar, rice, and chana dal, enriched with saffron, cardamom, and dry fruits for a traditional festive flavour.
Another offering includes Sooji Halwa Pockets, where semolina-based halwa sweetened with jaggery is filled into samosa wrappers and deep-fried to create a crispy festive snack. The company said these recipes reflect mindful living and promote the use of natural sweeteners while preserving the essence of Indian culinary traditions during New Year festivities celebrated in different regions.