Known as the Solar New Year and considered being a spring New Year's celebration for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India, Baisakhi is an important religious festivity, particularly for Sikhs who do not work on Baisakhi. It is celebrated on April 13 or 14.

Punjabi Til Gajak

Ingredients 1 cup sesame (til), 3/4 cup jaggery, 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder, 1 tablespoon ghee, 1 teaspoon oil. Preparation • Heat a heavy pan; add sesame seeds and half ghee. • Roast sesame on low flame stirring continuously. • Boil jaggery in 1/2 cup water to form thick syrup. • Put a droplet in a plate of cold water. • If it forms a soft ball and does not spread, it is done. • Add roasted sesame to syrup, mix gently and take off fire. • On a rolling board, spread a film of oil, for rolling gazak. • Pour sesame-jaggery mixture and roll to 1.5 cm. thickness. • Allow mixture to sufficiently cool, then mark into square pieces. • Once cooled completely, break into marked squares. • Store in an airtight container.

Amritsari Ladoo

Ingredients 4 cups whole-wheat flour, 2 cups sugar, 1 1/2 cups ghee, 1 teaspoon cardamom powder, 2 tablespoon slivered almonds, 1 tablespoon chopped cashews, 1 tablespoon raisins (optional), 1 teaspoon chironji- very lightly broken. Preparation • Melt ghee in a large pan. • Add wheat flour; stir continuously, till light brown. • Roast flour on very slow flame. • Meanwhile, prepare sugar syrup of 2 1/2 threads. • This is the soft ball stage of syrup. • Take off fire, add all other ingredients. • Mix well and shape into laddoos, of desired size. • Cool completely before storing in airtight container.

Happy Cooking!