Ellu Bella - Sankranti

The celebrations of Makara Sankranti in Karnataka is marked by preparing and distributing "ellu-bella"
( )and Sakkare-achhu (sugar candy molds) to friends and relatives. People greet with the words
"Ellu bella thindu, Olle Maathu Aadu", meaning "Eat sesame seeds and jaggery and speak only good".
The significance of this exchange is that sweetness should prevail in all the dealings.

Ingredients:
1. White Sesame seeds - 3 tbsp
2. Dry Coconut - 1
3. Peanuts - 1 cup
4. Fried gram/Hurigadale/Putaani - 1 cup
5. Jaggery - 1 cup

Procedure:
1. Grate the outer black portion of the dry coconut and cut into small pieces (uniformly) and dry in sunlight
for 2 days.

2. Similarly cut jaggery also to small pieces and dry in sunlight.

3. Roast peanuts, make sure it does not turn to brown color, remove the husk.
4. Roast sesame seeds slightly.
5. Mix all the above ingredients together.