Cocoa Flavoured Sweet Shakkar Poha / Beaten Rice (Sakre Povu).

“Cocoa Flavored Sweet Shakkar Poha / Beaten Rice (Sakre Povu)” … For today’s Tulsi Vivaha Pooja Naivedyam … Last Month Godu Povu (Sweet Poha) was prepared many times as it was festive season … So for a change prepared it today with cocoa flavor … A change in taste is always welcome and it turned out awesome ... May Tulsi Maiyya grant all our wishes and Bless all of us with good health, wealth and prosperity … Stay Blessed ...…

Preparing of Godu / Sweet Poha (pova, beaten rice, avalaki) is a must at most festive seasons specially during Shravana Masa Choodi Puja and Tulasi Vivaha Pooja during the Kartik Masa Month. This is offered as Naivedyam to God / Goddess and then distributed among family and friends. This one is a really simple Naivedyam. Poha as we as know is the Indian name for dried flattened rice / beaten rice. For a change I prepared this with thick poha which is readily available in the market. By and large thin textured poha is used and you may use the same as it gives a softer texture. Poha is nothing but rice that has been parboiled, rolled, flattened and then dried to produce flakes. The flakes come in different thicknesses depending on the rice used. 

There are many preparations and recipes for Poha, or flattened rice. Both sweet and spicy dishes are prepared with poha. Sweet poha is prepared by and large by all Indians and offered as Naivedyam to God. It is also cooked with lightly frying mustard seeds, turmeric, chili powder, finely chopped onions and then moistened poha is added to the spicy mix and steamed for a few minutes. Poha is normally eaten for breakfast by adding some spices, veggies etc. A healthy meal by itself poha is a dish that fills the stomach with all types of nutrients and proteins with minerals if prepared in the correct manner by addition of vegetable like, peas and carrot along with onions and spices. 

A famous mythological story goes by saying as …. Sudhama a dear childhood friend of Lord Krishna wanted to meet him after a long time. Krishna by then was a crowned prince and Sudhama was very poor who could not afford to take any expensive gift to offer to his good friend on his visit. Sudhama’s wife knew Krishna loved poha very much and she had some poha in her home. So she tied it in a cloth and gave it to her husband and asked him to give it to Krishna as a gift. Sudhama on reaching Krishna’s abode and seeing his wealthy house was hesitant to offer it to the Lord. 

Krishna who was always down to earth, was very happy on seeing his friend and came and embraced him with love and affection. On seeing that Sudama was hiding a parcel, Krishna tactfully pulled of the parcel from Sudhama and opened it. Lord Krishna was overjoyed to see that his friend had remembered and brought him poha which he loved immensely. He then and there sat with Sudhama and enjoyed the poha with great satisfaction. Thus Krishna’s love for poha got known to all and it is always prepared as Naivedyam and offered at his lotus feet during auspicious days. Today being Tulsi Vivah Pooja the ceremonial marriage of Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu (Sri Krishna). So I prepared this sweet poha with cocoa flavor for the first time instead of the normal one which is usually prepared as I was tired of eating the sam over the last few festive months. The flavor is simply wonderful and tasty. Do try this out. 

** For preparing the Cocoa Flavored Sweet “Shakkr Poha / Beaten Rice” ….

** In a thick bottomed kadai add 2 tblsp of ghee and keep it on high heat. When the ghee melts, lower the heat and add in 1/4th cup of cashew nut pieces and fry till light brown. Remove and keep them aside for garnishing. 

** Add in one heaped cup of sugar with about half a cup of water in the same kadai in which the ghee is still remaining after cashews are fried. Bring it to a boil on high heat. Make it into a thin syrup of 1 thread consistency. It will take about 2-3 minutes after it comes to full boil.

** Lower the heat to minimum and add in one heaped cup of fresh and finely grated white part of the coconut and mix well. Stir to for 3-4 minutes or till it thickens a bit. Add in the fried cashew nut pieces and mix well. This mixture of sugar syrup with coconut is called churan / choornu. Remove from fire and add in 2 tblsp of cocoa powder and mix well. There should be no lumps and the powder should get mixed in evenly. Allow to cool to room temperature.

** Now add in 1 tsp of cardamom powder and mix well. Lastly add in poha (I used the thick poha, you can use the thin poha too and mix well. I have added about roughly 300 gms of the same. The amount of poha actually depends upon the consistency of the churan / choornu. So add little by little and keep mixing till done. The texture for thick poha should remain a little on wetter side as the poha soaks in more liquid. Use your judgement. Keenly look at the picture for understanding better.

**“Cocoa Flavoured Sweet Shakkar Poha / Beaten Rice (Sakre Povu)” is done and ready to be offered as Naivedyam to Goddess. Put it in a silverware dish or any other vessel which you serve the God with and place it at the lotus feet of Goddess Tulsi Maiyya. I am sure this change in flavor of Naivedaym that is very dear to the lord will please her and you and your family will be blessed and granted all your wishes.