As winter prepares to bid farewell, Punjabi households and city eateries are busy savoring the last batches of gajrela, better known as gajar ka halwa. More than just a dessert, gajrela is a cultural emblem, inseparable from the season itself.For generations, the arrival of fresh red carrots has signaled not only the onset of winter but also the promise of steaming bowls of this rich delicacy, laden with khoya, ghee, and dry fruits.Across Ludhiana, sweet shops and eateries from Basant Ice-Cream and Pehalwan Sweets to Nathu Mal Ghudoo Mal, Khushi Ram, and Bikaner have kept the tradition alive, offering city residents the comfort of gajrela during peak winter months.While Basant Ice-Cream is celebrated for its kulfi year-round, winter brings gajrela into the spotlight. Some prefer it solo, while others indulge in the unique pairing of hot gajrela with cold kulfi, a blend of warmth and chill that has become a signature experience.The journey of Basant began in 1952 when Lal Singh sold kulfi from a handcart near Field Gunj. Today, the brand has expanded across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and even overseas. “From humble beginnings to today, we have come a long way with the blessings of our ancestors. What has remained intact is the taste of our kulfi and gajrela,” says Kanwalpreet Basant.For Ludhiana resident Niti Mann, the combination is unbeatable: “Winters are incomplete without hot gajrela loaded with khoya and dry fruits. Everyone loves brownies with ice-cream, but I go ‘desi’ and relish my combination of gajrela with kulfi. Sizzling hot gajrela with freezing kulfi is an out-of-the-world experience.”Since 1917, Nathu Mal Ghudoo Mal has been satisfying Ludhiana’s sweet cravings. Nestled in Chaura Bazar and now expanded to Civil Lines, the shop’s gajar paak and gajrela have become legendary, with their aroma and flavor reaching far beyond North India through online orders.For many families, the sweet is a bridge across continents. “My son lives in Canada but still craves the gajar paak back home. Every winter I send him homemade gajrela and gajar paak from Nathu Mal. Today’s kids might bake carrot cakes and pies, but nothing can match the rich taste of gajrela,” shares a local resident.A tradition at homeBeyond shops and eateries, gajrela remains a cherished homemade delicacy. Mohinder Kaur, a senior citizen, reflects on the fading season, “Winters are fading away and it will take its delicacies like gajrela and pinni too with it. Making the maximum of the season and fresh carrots available in the market, I am preparing one last batch of gajrela at home, which will be relished by my children and grandchildren.”More than a dessertFor Punjabis, gajrela is not merely a sweet dish, it is a seasonal ritual, a symbol of warmth, and a reminder of shared family moments. As the city prepares to welcome spring, the lingering taste of gajrela ensures that winter leaves behind not just a chill in the air but a sweetness in memory.