Soak rice for half an hour and strain. Heat ghee in a thick-bottomed vessel and fry cashew nuts, when they turn golden brown colour, remove form oil and keep aside. Add raisins and fry for a second and remove from oil.
Now add chopped onions and garlic to the oil and until colour changes. Add cardamoms, cloves and bay leaf. Add strained rice and gently fry for 10 minutes. Add double the quantity of boiling water to the rice and bring it to boil. Now add sugar and salt to taste and reduce the flame and cover the vessel with a lid and cook till rice is done.
Garnish the rice wit fried cashew nuts and raisins and serve hot.
