A Diwali of Wellness: From My Morning Practice to Your Festive Table

Dear Friend,

I want to share a story with you.

When I was younger, I believed that health needed resources: a gym membership, fancy equipment, the right people around me. But life has shown me otherwise.

During COVID, when the world stood still, I stood in my kitchen with nothing but my mat, my breath, and my will. Thousands of you joined me online, and together we discovered something powerful: Our health is in our own hands. No gyms, no excuses, just the rising sun, the breath in our lungs, and the choice to move. Excuses build walls; discipline builds bridges. The choice is always ours.

Now, at 50, this truth feels even more precious. Each morning, I begin with Surya Namaskar. The flow of breath and movement grounds me, connects me to Mother Earth, and reminds me that I am enough, I am worthy, I am my own cheerleader. After that, I walk, sometimes short, sometimes long, but always in fresh air. Oxygen is medicine. Nature clears the mind, even when we don’t notice it.

Between these practices, I nurture my two passions:

At Wellness Tree, I coach individuals, couples, and families to heal and reconnect.

Here at Kajal’s Kitchen, I create recipes that prove food can be both nourishing and delicious, because truly, food is medicine.

My Diwali Gift: Instant Handvo

Diwali is the season of light, and with light comes sharing. This year, I am offering you one of my favourite savoury snacks: Instant Handvo.

It is wholesome, protein-packed, filled with vegetables, and yet festive enough to shine on any Diwali table. It is balance on a plate, health and flavour in harmony. Perfect with a hot cup of chai or as a nourishing snack for your loved ones.

Instant Handvo Recipe

Ingredients

½ cup semolina

½ cup chickpea flour

2 tbsp ginger paste

1 tbsp green chilli paste

2 handfuls fresh coriander

3 cups grated vegetables (carrot, courgette, spinach, or your choice)

1 medium onion, finely chopped

½ cup raw mango, grated

2 tsp salt (to taste)

2 tsp sugar (optional)

1½ cups yogurt

½ tsp soda bicarb

1 tsp Eno fruit salt

For the Vaghar (Tempering):

2 tbsp oil

2 dry red chillies

Handful of curry leaves

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp cumin seeds

3 tbsp mix of black and white sesame seeds (to sprinkle on top)

Warm Spice Powder:

½ tsp cinnamon powder

¼ tsp clove powder

Method

1.        Mix all the main ingredients, including the spices.

2.        Heat oil, add the tempering ingredients, and let them crackle.

3.        Pour the vaghar into the mixture and fold gently.

4.        Transfer to a greased baking dish, sprinkle with sesame seeds.

5.        Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 35 to 40 minutes, until golden.

6.        Serve warm with chutney or yogurt.

Substitution Tip: No raw mango? Add 1 tbsp lemon juice or 1½ tbsp baobab powder for tang.

Sweet Traditions, Reimagined

Handvo reminds me that festive food can be nourishing and balanced. But when we think of Diwali, most of us think of sweets first. The mithai trays, the laddoos and barfis, the boxes exchanged between families, these are more than food, they are symbols of love, joy, and togetherness.

The problem is, too often they leave us feeling heavy, sluggish, or guilty. That is why I created my Healthy Mithai Recipe Collection.

These three volumes are my love letter to festive food, traditional Indian sweets reimagined with lighter ingredients, natural sweetness, and nourishing touches, without losing their essence. Inside you will find recipes that honour the flavours we grew up with while supporting the way we want to live today: vibrant, energised, and light.

The Mithai Collection includes:

• Creative takes on laddoos, and barfi's made healthier without compromising taste

• Protein-rich and nutrient-dense recipes that keep you satisfied

• Clear, simple instructions so you can confidently prepare mithai at home

• Treats that look beautiful on your Diwali table and make meaningful, guilt free gifts

You can explore all three volumes here: Kajal’s Healthy Kitchen Recipe Books

A Season of Light, Inside and Out

Diwali is not just about lighting lamps in our homes. It is about lighting the lamp within.

This season, I invite you to celebrate both sweetness and health, to nourish your body as much as your spirit. My Healthy Mithai Collection is my Diwali gift to you: recipes that bring joy, flavour, and balance to your celebrations.

They also make thoughtful presents for your loved ones. Instead of gifting yet another box of heavy, sugar-laden sweets, imagine gifting a collection of recipes that inspire health, joy, and lightness in the kitchen.

My Diwali wish for you is this: light, health, and the deep knowing that you are your own best guide.

With Warmth and Wellness,

Kajal

P.S. This is just the beginning. More festive recipes are coming your way through Diwali and into Christmas. Stay inspired, and if you make Handvo or anything from the Mithai Collection, tag me. I would love to see your creations.