“Til-gud ghya, god god bola” goes a famous marathi proverb and is said to greet people on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti. As Makar Sankranti is round the corner, til (sesame) and gud (jaggery) laddoos, til and gud chikkis and other delicacy preparations take the centre of the table in most households. Til and gud together are considered to be auspicious during the festival of Makar Sankranti.
Makar Sankranti is celebrated in all parts of India as the festival of harvest but with different names such as Lohri in Punjab, Uttarayan in Gujarati, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Magh Bihu in Assam and Makar Sankranti in other parts of the country.
Why is Til and Gud considered important in Sankranti?
The festival of Makar Sankranti is dedicated to lord sun, as on 14th of January, the agricultural community of India celebrates the occasion of harvest and welcomes the sun. Now til, is said to be connected with lord sun according to Hindu mythology. That is why sesame is eaten as a mark of respect to lord sun. Til and gud both are warm in nature and provide natural warmth to your body. Both are rich in nutrition and help in maintaining winter health so considered important during this time of the year.
Nutritionist Jinali Kamdar, famously known as Dieticianmumma on Instagram, shared with us the benefits of sesame and jaggery.
Also read: Winter Wellness: Expert Lists The Benefits Of Adding Sesame Seeds To Your Winter Diet
Benefits of Sesame (Til)
1. Rich in Calcium and Magnesium: Sesame seeds are a great source of calcium and manganese. Both calcium and manganese help you improve your bone health. Apart from promoting bone health, calcium and magnesium help in maintaining proper functioning of muscles, nerves and heart. Magnesium also controls the blood sugar levels of the body and helps lowering blood pressure as well.
2. High in fibre: Fibrous food promotes digestion and sesame seeds have a prosperous amount of fibre. It smoothes your bowel movements and aids easy digestion. It can prevent or cure digestive problems like constipation.
3. Dense form of plant protein: Sesame seeds are super affluent in protein being the best option for vegetarians and vegans to add in their diets. Protein is essential for your health as it helps build your muscles and hormones. It helps in reducing appetite and good food to add in your diet if you are trying to lose weight. Sesame seeds also boost better metabolism.
Benefits of Gud (Jaggery)
1. Rich in Iron: Jaggery is a good source of iron. Human body needs iron for growth and development. Our body uses iron to make haemoglobin which carries oxygen from lungs to all the parts of your body. For menstruating women, iron rich food is very beneficial as it carries out proper blood circulation in the body reducing menstrual cramps. Jaggery is advantageous for anaemic individuals.
2. Energy boosting: Jaggery contains potassium which helps balance out the mineral and electrolyte levels in your body. This promotes metabolism and you gain energy through that. Vitamins and minerals laden jaggery strengthen your immune system.
Also read: Jaggery Tea In Winter: Expert Explains How It Benefits Your Health In Colder Months
Benefits of Til-Gud laddu/chikki
Nutritionist Kamdar explained the benefits of consuming til and gud together. “Til-gud laddus and chikkis are dense forms of rich nutrition that give energy to be in the sun for a long time without feeling hungry. It also makes you feel thirsty so you drink more water and stay hydrated,” she said.
She further added, “You get all the essential vitamins and fatty acids in one food.”