3 Easy Tricolor Recipes for this Republic Day & An Insight Into the Dining Mess of Our Soldiers

We have all grown up saluting the Indian flag and our soldiers and reciting the national anthem on Republic Day and Independence Day with our heads held high and filled with pride.

But do we really know the significance of these days besides the fact that India gained independence on 15 August 1947 and the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950?

So here we are with some more details about why we observe these days so that we can pass on the knowledge to our children, who are going to be the future of our country.

So to begin with, 26 January 1930 was declared as “Purna Swaraj Diwas” or Independence Day.

However, the demand for an “independent India” was not fulfilled until 15 August 1947, which marked the birth of an independent India.

Following this, to honour the significance of the first Independence Day, members of the constituent assembly decided to enforce the constitution on 26 January 26 which came to be known as Republic Day.

Republic Day is celebrated in India with great pomp and show with majestic parades at Rajpath in New Delhi.

Other than Rajpath, this occasion is celebrated with equal enthusiasm across the nation where all people forget their religions and regions and come together as Indians to celebrate Republic Day.

Republic Day marks the day when the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950. After India was set free from the clutches of the British rule on 15 August 1947, it became an independent dominion in the British Commonwealth of Nations.

Even after the independence, the British monarch King George VI remained India’s official head of state and it was only after the Constitution of India came into effect that India was declared as a federal, sovereign, democratic republic within the commonwealth, abolishing the monarchy.

After independence, Dr B R Ambedkar was appointed as the Chairman of the drafting committee responsible for drafting the constitution, by the Constituent Assembly.

The drafting committee was responsible for framing the constitution, which would be passed and accepted by the assembly.

The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India on November 26, 1949, and following several amendments, brought it into effect on January 26, 1950, which is celebrated as the Republic Day of India.

On this very day, Dr Rajendra Prasad took the oath as the first President of independent India at the Durbar Hall in the Government House, Delhi. He was then driven to the Irwin Stadium to hoist the national flag, followed by a 21-gun salute.

This is the story behind the tradition of flag hoisting and parade, which we all Indians observe with the greatest respect.

Even today, on Republic Day, martyrs and heroes are awarded with prestigious awards such as the Kirti Chakra and Ashok Chakra by the president.

The guest of honour at the parade is generally a carefully selected dignitary from a foreign country.

3 Easy Tricolor Recipes for This Republic Day

For us Indians, Republic Day is a day of celebrations and no less than a festival.

And what is a festival without the mention of food?

So let us give you 3 super easy recipes prepared in tricolor to mark our respect for Republic Day and also to enjoy that one holiday from work!

1. Tiranga Sandwich

Ingredients

• 6 Bread slices
• Butter

For the green layer:

• 2 Tablespoon mint chutney
• Half cup grated paneer
• Salt As per taste

For the orange layer:

• 1 Carrot
• 2 Tablespoon mayonnaise
• Salt

Method

1. Grate the carrot and keep it aside. Butter the bread slices.
2. For the green layer, mix the mint chutney, paneer, and salt in a bowl and keep it aside.
3. For the orange layer, mix carrot, mayonnaise, and salt in a separate bowl and keep it aside.
4. Spread butter on the bread slices.
5. Take one buttered slice and spread the green mixture.
6. Now place another slice of bread on top of this.
7. Add the grated carrot mixture on this slice covering it with another buttered slice of bread from the top and serve.

 

2. Tricolor Penne Pasta Salad

Ingredients

• 250 gms Penne Pasta
• 2 Hard-boiled eggs
• 1 Piece each of green and orange bell peppers
• Half sliced onion, minced garlic
• Black pepper powder
• Lemon juice
• Italian seasoning
• Chilli flakes
• Light soya sauce
• Salt and olive oil

Method

1. Start by boiling the pasta. Add little salt and oil to the boiling pasta.
2. When el dante, remove from the fire and drain. Keep the boiled pasta aside.
3. Now in a pan, add olive oil. When the oil heats up, add the minced garlic.
4. To this, add the onions, green and orange bell peppers and saute lightly.
5. Now add salt, black pepper powder, lemon juice, Italian seasoning and chilli flakes. Add a dash of light soya sauce and serve warm.

3. Dhokla Teen Rang Ka

Ingredients

• 4 Cups idli batter,
• Add 1 Cup spinach puree,
• Next 1 Cup grated orange carrots,
• 1 Teaspoon ginger paste,
• 3 Teaspoons green chilli paste,
• Add 1 Tbsp gun powder,
• Next 1 Tbsp Kashmiri chilli powder,
• 1 Tbsp green chilli and ginger paste, oil,
• Grated coconut,
• Chopped coriander leaves,
• Mustard seeds,
• Curry leaves and salt.

Method

1. Divide the idli batter into three equal parts.
2. For the orange batter, mix gunpowder, grated orange carrots, salt and chilli powder in one portion of the batter.
3. Add The white batter, add salt to the second part of the idli batter and leave it aside.
4. The green batter, mix the third potion of the idli batter with spinach puree, ginger and green chilli paste and salt.
5. Heat water in a big vessel. Grease a flat steel plate and transfer the orange batter on to the plate and keep it for steaming.
6. When done, remove and steam the other color batters also in the same way. Cut into the desired shape and keep.
7. To prepare the tempered seasoning, heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, curry leaves and pour it on the steamed dhoklas. Garnish them with grated coconuts and chopped coriander leaves and serve warm.

Do you want to find healthy alternatives to your dishes or do you want to find how foods can help in healthy weight loss?

Click here to avail your first Nutritionist consultation. That too for FREE!

Here Is What Our Soldiers Are Fed With To Keep Them Thriving

While we celebrate the Republic Day with the easy and yummy recipes we have shared with you, let us have a look what our men are served while they are on duty protecting us, away from their homes and loved ones.

The Food Research Laboratory in Mysore offers specially curated dishes for the soldiers, which mainly consist of ready to eat foods and those that last for months.

These foods contain preserved chapattis, vegetables, pulao, meat, tea and coffee. They also get desserts and liquor. Now let us get on with the real stuff!

What kind of food is served in the army mess? Mess food is excellent along with maintaining its nutritious value and wholesomeness, the palate and food choices of the dining members are taken into account.

Strict quality control and accountability are ensured through inspections and visits.

Well, most messes serve brunch at 10 am on Sundays, the variety of which ranges from Aloo paratha, Aaloo Puri, Dosa, Idli or Vada. The mess staff gets to take the rest of the time off on Sundays until the dinner time.

Tuesdays are fixed as vegetarian days and the messes usually serve Chhole Bhature for lunch.

On other days, the messes follow interesting food menu which consists of Chinese food on one day, Italian on another, continental on some day and even a street food day.

The good part is that the consensus of the dining members is usually taken into consideration while devising the menu plan.

According to the Indian Express, while troopers get more rice/atta and dal than officers, the latter get more meat, eggs (below 9,000 feet) and butter.

At higher altitudes (above 12,000 feet), paramilitary soldiers are entitled to the same ration as the Army and, in addition to the regular ration, get dry fruits (almonds and cashew nuts), chocolates, instant noodles and fruit juices.

So here was all we have to tell you about the Republic Day and the dining experience of the defence personnel.

Let us utilize this opportunity to connect on the occasion of Republic Day and share what you know about the significance of Republic Day and the food our Bravehearts get to eat.

Leave your comments in the comment section below. Also, let us know if you liked the article. Jai Hind!