For Your Little Krishna and You: The story behind the rituals of Krishna Jayanthi

Every year, as Krishna Jayanthi approaches, homes across Tamil Nadu begin to follow a beautiful celebration. While each family has its own way of celebrating, one thing ties us all together: the role of food in marking the occasion.

At Nithya Amirtham, we see festivals not just as dates on a calendar, but as opportunities to honour tradition, practice care, and bring people together through food. This year, we’ve created a festive offering called “For Your Little Krishna and You”: two curated boxes filled with traditional Krishna Jayanthi snacks. But more than what’s inside, it’s about why these foods matter.

Why food is central to Krishna Jayanthi

In Tamil tradition, Krishna Jayanthi is observed as the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna often celebrated by recreating scenes from his childhood. While the spiritual aspects vary by household, one constant is the preparation of traditional snacks and sweets.

Seedai, both uppu and vellam varieties, is perhaps the most iconic Krishna Jayanthi snack in Tamil Nadu. Making it is considered both a tradition and a test of patience. The dough must be just right, the balls smooth and crack-free, and the frying done slowly and evenly. In many families, preparing seedai becomes a shared task between generations.

Murukku is another staple for almost every Tamil festival. Its spirals are shaped with practiced hands, often using family heirloom achus (press moulds). The process of making murukku from kneading the dough to forming the swirls is often a process enjoyed.

Aval, or flattened rice, is closely linked to the story of Krishna and Sudama. According to tradition, Krishna accepted just a handful of aval from his friend Sudama not for the quantity, but for the love it was offered with. Today, Aval Urundai, made with jaggery and coconut, honours that story.

Palkova, made by slowly reducing milk over hours, is a sweet that represents patience and care much like the kind Yashoda might have shown to a young Krishna. Its presence during Krishna Jayanthi in Tamil homes is also tied to places like Srivilliputhur, where it is a common temple offering and part of the festive memory.

What We’ve Put Together

At Nithya Amirtham, we know that for many families, making festival snacks at home is a tradition in itself.

Whether you’re short on time, looking for a thoughtful gift, or just want to add to what you’re already preparing, these boxes are made to fit in, not stand out.

Here’s what we’ve thoughtfully put together:

• Mini Combo – A smaller collection with festival favourites like seedai, aval urundai, and palkova. Perfect for simple offerings or for sharing with little ones.
• Regular Combo – A fuller spread for the whole family, including an expanded mix of sweets and savouries like murukku, thattai, laddus, and more.

Holding on to what matters

There’s no one way to celebrate Krishna Jayanthi. Some homes will have kolams and lamps. Others might just have a small plate with a few sweets. Some will cook for hours. Others will keep it light.

But in all these homes, the thread is the same - the effort to prepare something with care, and to be part of a tradition that’s been around long before us.