Savouring Amritsari Khajoor in winter ahead of Lohri

Amritsari Khajoor has over the centuries acquired a heritage character. It should not be confused with the similar sounding name of a popular fruit from the Gulf ---- dates--- which is also called 'Khajoor' in Punjabi.

These Khajoors are known as Amritsari Khajoor, perhaps due to its availability in the local market and that too during the winter season.

Notably, Khajoor is considered humble in the spectrum of colourful sweets. Brown in colour and made from commonly available ingredients, including maida (white flour), powdered sugar and ghee, it is a popular sweet among people of all age-groups. Its popularity is attributed to the crunch which is developed after being deep fried for hours.

A city resident, Gurbhej Singh, who is now in his fifties, said the sweet is etched in his childhood memory as his parents, while taking the family to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple, used to buy one piece for each of them in winter. The crunch and being deep fried in desi ghee (clarified butter) give it an authentic taste.

Rameshinder Singh Sandhu, a travel writer, says, "Whenever I relish Khajoor, I am reminded of Scotland's short bread biscuit, which I had tasted during my visit there only a few months ago. Khajoor for me is like the Amritsar version of it." Khajoor is both a snack and a dessert which gives instant taste and energy.

Manohar Lal, a poular khajoor confectioner, said his family has been preparing the sweet for decades. Despite being prepared in vegetable oil, he sells them at Rs 400 kg while the same is available between Rs 600 to Rs 650 if made in desi ghee.

People eagerly wait to savour them in the winter as well as on the festival of Lohri. Khajoor is an inalienable part of Lohri celebrations. Embellished with other condiments like peanuts, beaten rice, rewaris (sesame seeds and tiny balls of jaggery), it is also offered to the bonfire lit on the night of the festival. Since the age-old tradition of Lohri celebrations commands a boy born in a family to solemnise the occasion, his family offers gifts to the family where its daughter is married into.