This article is the second in a series called “Festival of Flavors.” For six weeks, kids around the world shared the family recipes that most evoke their heritage. Visit this issue’s table of contents to read the other installments!

The recipe that makes me feel closest to my heritage is the Indian dessert kheer because it is made on many special religious occasions as an offering to God.

Another very significant reason is that the main ingredient required to prepare it is cows’ milk, and the cow is considered a very sacred animal by the followers of Hinduism.

Kheer is most often prepared on the occasion of Sharad Pornima or Kojagiri Pornima (full moon). It is mainly celebrated in West Bengal and Maharashtra, states in India. In West Bengal, the Goddess Lakshmi, who represents wealth, fortune, and prosperity, is worshipped on this day. Kheer is offered to her because rice is grown in abundance in West Bengal. This tradition has been prevalent in our society since ancient times.

Sharad Pornima is celebrated on the full moon day of the month Ashwin according to the Hindu calendar, which is between September and October. On this day people gather and enjoy kheer after offering it to the Goddess Lakshmi at midnight under the moonlight.

Along with the Goddess Lakshmi, the moon is also worshipped, as it too is considered divine in Indian culture. It is said by our ancestors that on Sharad Pornima the moon and the earth are closest to each other, and that the moon showers nectar through its rays that nourishes our body and soul. Celebrations include keeping a bowl of kheer under moonlight. It is thought that divine illumination is reflected by the moon on this night, and after offering it to the Goddess Lakshmi we can enjoy the kheer wherever we want, beneath the moon or in the house. Sometimes, friends or family members get together after midnight and enjoy kheer together.

A few years ago, on the day of Sharad Pornima, my mother prepared kheer to keep under the moonlight, as usual. We were all delighted to eat it after the rituals. Then it started raining in the evening. I thought it wouldn’t rain for too long. But as time passed, it continued raining until midnight.I was upset thinking I wouldn’t be able to eat the kheer as the moon was not visible, and without moonlight we couldn’t eat the dish. We waited for a long time and were convinced that we would have to sleep without the treat.

Then, to everyone’s surprise, it stopped raining. After some time, the moon appeared, too! I was overjoyed and asked my mother to bring the kheer and finish the rituals as soon as possible so that I could enjoy this delicious dish!