Makar Sankranti - patishapta Pitha & Gurer payesh

Makar Sankranti, marks the end of Bengali month "Poush", also known as 'Poush Sankranti'. This day is considered one of the auspicious time of the year, and another chance to enjoy culinary delicacies and spend some special moments with family and freinds. On this day, mothers and grandmothers make some special homemade sweets. Most common delicasies are Patishapta Pitha, Puli pitha, doodh puli and so many varieties of pitha and payesh with khejurer Gur(Kheer with date palm jaggery) which is only available during this winter months. Pitha or pithe, is a home-made sweet, which has outer layer made of rice or wheat flour and a inner filling made of different savouries. Pitha is usually prepared during Poush Parbon, the festival marking the harvesting season, known as Makar Sankranti in North India and poush parbon or poush sankranti in bengal.
The festival of Makar Sankranti is highly regarded by the Hindus from North to down South. The day is known by various names and a variety of traditions are followed. In Bengal,Thousands of pilgrims from different parts of the country gather at Gangasagar, the point where the holy river ganges meets the sea, bay of bengal to take a dip very early in the morning and wash away all the earthly sins. This fair is known as "Gangasagar Mela".
To celebrate this festival, I prepared two sweet bengali delicacies...
Patishapta pitha

Natun Gurer Payesh which I posted earlier. For the recipe, click on the titles.

I am sending these two delicacies to Priti of Indian Khana, who is celebrating the festive food of Makar Sankranti.