Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated for 10 days and is incomplete without modaks immersed in ghee, to be offered to the lord Ganesha. Modak is also known by some other names as Kudumu in Telugu, Modhaka or Kadubu in Kannada, and Kozhakattai in Tamil. This is one of the most favorite sweet of Maharashtra and is specially consumed during the Ganesh Festival. Ganpati Bappa is said to be fond of sweets. One of his most favorite sweets is modak. This is how he came by the name ‘Modakpriya,’ which means ‘the one who loves modak’.
What is Modak?
A sweet rice dumpling, modak, is generally prepared out of wheat or rice flour. It is packed with the right combination of jaggery, shredded coconut, and spices like cardamom. In most cases, the outer shell is prepared by steaming or frying, depending on the area and the preference of the consumers.
Tales Behind Why Ganesha Loves Modak
This is the story of Queen Menavati who was the mother of Lord Ganesha’s mother. Day by day, Ganesh’s hunger grew and one day, Queen Menavati, moved by love for the child, began making laddoos. This was very tiring for her, and the queen became aware of this as Ganpati began to extend in size as well as age; laddoos could not be churned out swiftly enough for his consumption. She thought of the Modaks as a substitute. It was not so difficult for her to feed Lord Ganesha, who consumed them with such relish in less time.
The second legend depicted throws light on why 21 modaks are offered to Lord Ganesha on Ganesh Chaturthi. Devi Anusuya asked Lord Shiva, Parvati, and Ganesha to join her for dinner. She told them that they wouldn’t eat until baby Ganesha was full. After finishing his meal, they served him modak as dessert. When he swallowed it, Ganesha burped to show his satisfaction. It’s interesting to note that Lord Shiva burped exactly 21 times as much as Ganesh did. Immensely intrigued by what she had witnessed, Parvati asked Devi Anusuya to share the recipe for the seemingly magical sweet. Upon learning the definition of a Modak, Parvati asked all her son’s devotees to offer him exactly twenty-one Modaks—one for every burp that Lord Shiva let out.
There is another famous story associated with it – Lord Ganesha, once in a fight, defeated the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. During the fight, Lord Ganesha ended up having one of his teeth broken off, so he could not eat anything. Soft modaks were smeared with ghee, which started melting in his mouth and thereafter it is said that modak became his favorite food.
Types of Modak
Steamed Modak (Ukadiche Modak)
Out of the two basic methods of preparation, the most common type of modak prepared during Ganesh Chaturthi is the steamed modak. It has a soft and sticky coating on the outside made up of rice flour. The filling, which is also sweet, consists of cardamom, jaggery, raw cane sugar and grated coconut. You can make them in round or conical shapes. The dough gives Modak a chewy and soft texture when steamed. Since steaming preserves the flavor and natural taste of the ingredients used in the filling without browning, this creates a delicious, light, and non-oily sweet.
Fried Modak
While the outer cover has a crispy finish, Fry modaks offer a change in texture. These modaks, which are prepared from a dough containing wheat flour or maida, are then crispy golden fried. The filling is the same as steamed modak. The outer layer of the modak becomes crunchy and the taste becomes richer after the frying process. There is a layer of crispiness that goes with the sweet, with chewy feeling of the modak filling.
Stuffed Modak
There are many different and creative ways to stuff the modaks other than using coconut and jaggery syrup, as most people know. While the outer covering of servings looks like steamed or fried modak, it the stuffing can vary with dried rose petals or Gulkand, nuts, or even dry fruits. One can get a totally different taste, and this is why the dish is quite versatile.
Mini Modak
Just like the traditional modak, mini modaks are also of the same flavor but in a smaller size. These small, tasty ones are perfect to be served during functions or any festival and are prepared with the same filling as modak. Despite the size difference, they still maintain the same rich, sweet taste as the original ones, making them perfect for sharing.
Chocolate Modak
Chocolate modak is the modern version of the same classic delight food. The normal grated coconut and jaggery are used along with a rich chocolate taste in the filling of the coconut; the outer layer may be left as it is or may be coated with cocoa powder. This variation gives the traditional modak recipe a unique twist while combining the irresistible taste of modak with the delicious taste of chocolate.
Popular sweets of India, modak has unbeatable significance to Ganesh Chaturthi and other occasions. Modak is truly a versatile food. It has a rather soft and chewy feel and is famous for the traditional steamed version but also for the fried, which has a crispy crust. Whether traditional or non-traditional, each type of modak is relished.
Diksha Nayyar is a versatile writer with a passion for creating engaging and insightful articles on a wide range of topics. With a background in Journalism, she brings a keen eye for detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality content. Diksha has written extensively about health, social issues and technology, aiming to inform and inspire readers. Outside of writing, she enjoys trying out new restaurants and playing with dogs.
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