In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Sankranti is never complete without an overdose of Ariselu. It is a state-wide favorite for other festivals and functions as well. Ancient Indians knew that preparing sweets and other dishes from freshly-harvested rice was bad for the health because of its moisture content. So they improvised and came up with an ingenious way of preparing Ariselu, which is still how it is prepared today. For the calorie conscious, this Ariselu alternative which uses sunflower oil in place of ghee is the perfect way to celebrate taste, minus the guilt!