Puja

To open her fast this Friday, Antim, our friend and neighbor, made rice pudding to offer to seven married women. The creamy desert – made with basmati rice, milk and cardamom and topped with green raisins and coconut – cooks for about three hours and is served warm or cold. It’s absolutely delicious warm.

Antim performed her puja to show reverence to Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of prosperity and generosity. I believe the seven married women symbolize the seven Hindu gods and the rice pudding offering represents a spiritual connection with the divine.

The puja ceremony included prayer, the lighting of incense and the offering of carnations.