What is Kheer?

Kheer is a stove-top pudding made with Rice or other grains sugar and milk

Kheer first appears in the great Hindu Epic of Ramayana as a fertility aide.
King Dashratha worships around a pyre of fire (Yagya) so his barren wives may be blessed with children. The Lord of fire (Agni) emerges with a bowl of Kheer and gives it Dashratha. Dashratha had three wives: Kaushalya, Kaikayee, and Sumitra. Dashratha divides Kheer in two halves, giving one portion to Kaushalya and the other to Kaikayee. Unselfishly, each of these wives give half of their share to Sumitra. Months later, Kaushalya would give birth to Rama, Kaikayee to Bharat, and Sumitra to the twins: Lakshman and Shatrughan.

All the Hindus know the rest of the story. In North India, a mother in-law gives a bowl of Rice Kheer on Diwali to welcome new daughter in-law who may be blessed with a son and prosperity.

The coarsely ground or whole grains are cooked in whole milk with sugar to the consistency of a thick soup. Nuts, and raisins may be added. The result is a creamy dessert. The most common  Kheer is made with rice, specially on holy functions. The grains may be in any from such as Rice flour, or Farina.

In South India, Kheer is called 'Payasam'