Quick and Easy Basant Panchami 2025: Step-By-Step Guide To Making Traditional Zarda Rice
Learn how to make traditional Zarda rice on Basant Panchami. This sweet, aromatic dish is made with basmati rice, saffron, sugar, dry fruits, and cardamom, offering a flavourful festive treat.

Basant Panchami is a joyful and festive occasion that's celebrated across India. This day celebrates the arrival of spring and honours Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom, knowledge, and arts. Food plays a major role in the festival as families come together to celebrate the occasion. One of the most popular dishes that's served on this day is Zarda Rice. It's a sweet and savoury dish that's made with basmati rice, dry fruits, and a few aromatic spices.
In Indian homes, Zarda rice is not just a meal, but also a part of the cultural celebration. It is traditionally made to worship Goddess Saraswati because it is believed that she brings prosperity, wisdom, and success to all her devotees. Zarda rice is a mouthwatering dish that has a vibrant yellow colour, that is achieved from saffron or turmeric. It symbolises bright and hopeful beginnings that the spring season represents.
Since the holidays bring family and friends together, it is common for everyone to prepare this traditional delicacy of India. The process of making this fragnant Zarda rice is filled with warmth, laughter, and love as it requires patience and care. The rice is cooked thoroughly, then sweetened with sugar or jaggery, and enriched with ghee which gives this dish a rich and comforting taste. It is then garnished with a mixture of dry fruits like raisins, cashews, and almonds which add a nice crunch and texture to the dish.
The preparation of Zarda rice on Basant Panchami is a way to bring people together and celebrate the season of renewal. This sweet dish is not only offered to Goddess Sarswati, but it is also a way to bond and create beautiful memories. Whether served as a dessert or as a part of a meal, Zarda rice is an integral part of the Basant Panchami celebrations and is enjoyed by people all over the country.
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Basmati Rice
- 4 Tablespoon Sugar
- 2 Tablespoon Ghee
- 1 Pinch Saffron (soaked in 2 tablespoons warm milk)
- 0.5 Teaspoon Cardamom Powder
- 4 Tablespoon Mixed Dry Fruits (cashews, almonds, raisins)
- 0.5 Teaspoon Rose Water
- 2 Cup Water
- 4 Tablespoon Milk
Cooking Instructions
Wash the basmati rice properly and soak it in water for about 20 minutes. Drain all the water before cooking it.
Take a pot, add in water and milk in it and bring to boil. Add soaked rice and cook it. The rice should remain separate and fluffy. Drain excess water and set aside.
Take another pan and heat 1-2 tablespoons of ghee in it. Add in cooked rice and pour the sugar syrup over it. Once it comes to a light boil, add in soaked saffron, cardamom powder, and a few drops of rose water.
Heat ghee in pan and add mixed dry fruits in it. Fry them till they turn golden brown. Once done, remove them from heat and set them aside.
Take a large pan and heat a tablespoon of oil in it. Add in cooked rice and pour sugar syrup over it. Add rice and mix properly ensuring that the rice gets coated with the syrup. Add saffron infused milk and mix again. Cook on low heat allowing the flavours to infuse.
Once the rice is cooked, add the fried dry fruits. Serve the warm Zarda rice as a sweet dish or offering to Goddess Saraswati.
Summary
Basant Panchami 2025: Step-By-Step Guide To Making Traditional Zarda Rice
Learn how to make traditional Zarda rice on Basant Panchami. This sweet, aromatic dish is made with basmati rice, saffron, sugar, dry fruits, and cardamom, offering a flavourful festive treat.
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Basmati Rice
- 4 Tablespoon Sugar
- 2 Tablespoon Ghee
- 1 Pinch Saffron (soaked in 2 tablespoons warm milk)
- 0.5 Teaspoon Cardamom Powder
- 4 Tablespoon Mixed Dry Fruits (cashews, almonds, raisins)
- 0.5 Teaspoon Rose Water
- 2 Cup Water
- 4 Tablespoon Milk
Main Procedure
Wash the basmati rice properly and soak it in water for about 20 minutes. Drain all the water before cooking it.
Take a pot, add in water and milk in it and bring to boil. Add soaked rice and cook it. The rice should remain separate and fluffy. Drain excess water and set aside.
Take another pan and heat 1-2 tablespoons of ghee in it. Add in cooked rice and pour the sugar syrup over it. Once it comes to a light boil, add in soaked saffron, cardamom powder, and a few drops of rose water.
Heat ghee in pan and add mixed dry fruits in it. Fry them till they turn golden brown. Once done, remove them from heat and set them aside.
Take a large pan and heat a tablespoon of oil in it. Add in cooked rice and pour sugar syrup over it. Add rice and mix properly ensuring that the rice gets coated with the syrup. Add saffron infused milk and mix again. Cook on low heat allowing the flavours to infuse.
Once the rice is cooked, add the fried dry fruits. Serve the warm Zarda rice as a sweet dish or offering to Goddess Saraswati.