(Image courtesy Bhakti Vedanta Book trust International )
Janmashtami , birth of Lord krishna is celebrated all over India. Each place celebrates this occasion in different ways.
In Maharashtra, people make a human pyramid , the person on top breaks the earthern pot filled with curds. This is called Dahi Handi.
Gopalkala is made as an offering /prasad . Lord Krishna was known for his love for milk, curd and butter.
Krishna would graze cattle with his fellow cowherd friends. At lunch time He would mix all the food bought by his friends with His own, and made a Kala. So kala is a mixture of food with milk, curd, and butter.
Even now this custom is followed and served as Prasad.
There is no hard and fast rule or any recipe for this Kala.
The main ingredients are poha , curd ,sugar, milk , buttermilk, salt. The kala looks a little dry after the poha soaks up the liquids.
-Combine all this -
1 cup poha ( beaten rice) washed and drained
1/2 cup murmura ( puffed rice)
1/2 cup Lahiya made from dry roasting millets ( this is used during Laxmi Puja during Diwali)
2 cups fresh curds preferably made from full cream milk
1/4 cup milk
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup sugar or to taste
salt to taste
2 green chillies finely cut
some finely cut coriander leaves
Few pieces each of Cucumber, banana, and guava.
Some pieces of Lemon Pickle
Some Green chilli pickle
1 Table spoon soaked bengal gram dal .
The poha soaks up the liquids and becomes dry after some time.
This is my entry for Latha’s event on Janmashtami 
24 responses so far ↓
lathanarasimhan // September 5, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Lovely entry archu! I am expecting such special entries from all regions so that all of us can get to know more about the practices and delicacies in all regions! Thanks dear!
Thanx Latha for hosting this event
We will be learning so many customs and recipes through this event 
sra // September 5, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Hi Archana, never heard of this, v different.
Yes Sra this is peculiar to Maharashtra
Raaga // September 5, 2007 at 1:20 pm
I’m missing this… we make this at home
It is easy to make, but what is given as prasad in temples tastes divine
srivalli // September 5, 2007 at 4:45 pm
sounds interesting archana…
Thanx Srivalli
lakshmi // September 5, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Yes in Mumbai it is a big affair. Yesterday the news channels were showing it. What a crowd it was
Every thing is getting commercialized 
Asha // September 5, 2007 at 6:26 pm
In North Karnataka, they make something like this called “Mosaravalakki” (Poha,yogurt),looks yum.You made Gopala happy
Oh Asha I am so glad to see your comment. Take care don’t strain your self
We too make dahi poha similar version to Gopalkala
viji // September 5, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Archana, Nice entry. happy KJ. Viji
Thanx Viji :)Happy Janmashtami to you too
Sirisha Kilambi // September 5, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Sounds new Archana….pretty interesting…I like the name of the recipe
So How was ur Krishnashtami..?
Janmashtami was gr8.Yes this is special from Maharashtra
Jyothi // September 5, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Hi Archana! great festival recipe. Never heard about this. Very interesting and looks yummy. Thanks for sharing.
Thanx Jyothi
TBC // September 5, 2007 at 8:40 pm
This recipe is new to me.From the pic, I thought it was curd-rice.
Nice entry for the event.Sending Janmashtami wishes your way, Archana
It tastes something like curd rice . Happy Janmashtami to you
Tee // September 5, 2007 at 9:10 pm
Nice post Archana! dahi handi was such fun to look at…i had almost forgotten about this until i read your post. Thanks for bringing it back
Thanx Tee,
Even I have not seen Dahi Handi for a long time
Manasi // September 5, 2007 at 9:10 pm
This is new to me! Nice entry!
Thanx Manasi
pooja v // September 5, 2007 at 11:21 pm
Nice post Archana. Dahi handi has always been fun to watch.
Thanx PoojaV :)I love the whole commotion and music
Bharathy // September 6, 2007 at 12:02 am
Warewah!!Waht a lovely name…!!such a treat for lucky krishna!I love this(”totally new neivedyam to me”)with all poha..puffed rice..buter milk…milk..and fruits..all Krishnas favourite in one..!..Yours is the best!!Simply best!!
:D))) Thanx Bharathy
If the same is made otherwise you may not like it but for neivedyam it tastes divine 
bhags // September 6, 2007 at 2:32 am
shalet gopalkala banavayvcho ani to khanyasaathi paij lagayachi….oh, how i had completely forgotten bout those days and of course the treasured dahi handi…thanks for bringing back the memories…
Thanx Bhags :)These things if done together in a group is real fun :)Ata festivals cha season suru zala, Ganapati che diwas ale ata ajoon maja ahey
nz // September 6, 2007 at 4:23 am
Hey Archana, this is new to me, but I like this no cooking recipe ! Hope you had a great Janamshtami.
Hi Abha, yes it is not so well known and is generally made during Janmashtami
Rajitha // September 6, 2007 at 5:19 am
hmmm this is new to me..sounds delicious.
Yes it tastes nice specially if made for prasad
shanti // September 6, 2007 at 5:47 am
hi there is a surprise for u in my blog
Yes I saw thank you so much Shanti
Jyothsna // September 6, 2007 at 10:25 am
Oh yes, the dahi handis….. we were feeling terrible about missing out on all that commotion and fun of the janmashtami season in Mumbai! Gopalkala has an interesting story to it!
Oh Mumbai is lovely. Such events take a grand scale there.
roopa // September 6, 2007 at 2:49 pm
excellent entry Archana!
Thanx Roopa
sukanya // September 7, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Hi Archana….
This sounds something new to me……nice….
Yes it is it is different Sukanya
sharmi // September 7, 2007 at 6:42 pm
this recipe sounds so new and nice. never heard of it. looks so delicious. Belated Janmashtami.
Same to you Belated Janmashtami
kajal // September 8, 2007 at 6:18 am
Something different recipe with salt and sweet but I think this is nice new taste. Nice entry for Latha.
Thanx Kajal
It tastes good 
Suma Gandlur // September 8, 2007 at 8:43 am
I am hearing about this for the first time. Must be lovely with those pickles and fruits thrown in the dish.
Yes yes it tastes divine Suma
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